Red Light Cameras Shown to Cause Accidents; Trapster Can Help
SAN DIEGO-- Trapster, the world's most popular navigation and traffic related application for the iPhone and other smartphones, doesn't just save drivers money, it helps keep roads safe.
A recent Los Angeles CBS News expose (http://cbs2.com/goldstein/Red.Light.Cameras.2.1301941.html) revealed that, in fact, red light cameras have increased traffic accidents, simply because they startle drivers. Accidents nearly tripled at some intersections. The reason: drivers slam on their brakes when they see the cameras, causing vehicles behind them to collide from the rear. Trapster alerts drivers to red light cameras via spoken warnings, a half mile before they approach, giving ample time to prepare.
Road safety is a major objective for Trapster. At the request of law enforcement, it has already added locations of and directions to police and fire stations, and school zones. A version currently in development supports Amber alerts, and allows users to report accidents, brush fires, children-at-play zones, and road hazards. Other features such as real time traffic and turn-by-turn directions are already included in Trapster.
"We have 2.5 million users who can enhance road safety by reporting things they see," says Pete Tenereillo, Founder and CEO of Trapster.com. "That's a powerful force. Sometimes people need to find the police, rather than avoid them."
Trapster is completely free, and runs on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm Pre, Nokia phones, Garmin and TomTom GPS units, and more. Recent feature additions include crowdsourced traffic, points of interest, and a fun feature that plays voice alerts in an imitated celebrity or character voice.
About Trapster
Trapster is the most popular driving related mobile app in the world (both in cumulative and ongoing daily downloads). It is the first location-based application that alerts users in real-time when they approach speed traps or red-light cameras. It takes advantage of user input and the power of the community to provide not only the trap information, but also to arbitrate the veracity of that information. It also provides turn-by-turn directions, real time traffic, accident reports, gas stations, banks, rest stops, local search, and more. Trapster is free.
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