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Trapster waarschuwt voor flitspalen, controles en verkeerslichten

Trapster stelt je meteen op de hoogte wanneer je in de buurt van een flitspaal bent. Niet alleen bij vaste flitspalen krijg je een melding te horen, maar ook bij tijdelijke flitspalen of politiecontrole’s. Wanneer je tijdens het rijden op het scherm tikt, word je huidige locatie geregistreerd en krijgen andere automobilisten die hier later langskomen melding van. Hoe meer mensen de applicatie gebruiken, hoe nauwkeurig de applicatie wordt. Het is natuurlijk wel “balen” wanneer je als eerste langs een politiecontrole rijdt en volledig op de applicatie vertrouwde. De applicatie heeft al een aardige database van Nederlandse flitspalen, aldus tipgever Taco. In de applicatie krijg je ruim van tevoren een melding te horen en zie je ook de afstand van jou tot de flitspaal/controle, zodat je niet in één keer vol op de rem drukt.

Je kunt Trapster ook gebruiken om rode stoplichten te ontwijken, maar in de tijd dat je een andere route hebt bedacht is het stoplicht alweer groen. Een nogal onbegrijpelijke functie dus eigenlijk …

De manier waarop stoplichten en politiecontroles worden weergeven kun je zelf bepalen. Je kunt deze op een kaart laten weergeven, maar ook gewoon als snelle lijst bekijken. Ook de manier waarop de daadwerkelijke waarschuwing in beeld komt is zelf in te stellen.

Understanding types of traps, and confidence ratings

Part of getting the most out of Trapster is understanding the different trap types and confidence levels that we use on the web and in the mobile applications. We've created a system that uses various icons and colors to denote different trap types, ie. red light cameras, and their associated user confidence level, so that you can visually add and identify the right traps.

Given that Trapster's application is only as good as the data that our community members (that's you) provide us, we think its important to dissect all the different trap types. At the end of the day we want you to feel confident that you're adding the right trap to the right location, or getting the most accurate speed trap notifications.

Confidence Levels

Green Trap Icons: Traps with a green icon indicate that the particular trap has been reported, but it has not been verified. The green color indicates a low confidence level because it has yet to be voted on, or confirmed, by users. Once a user votes using the "Thumbs Up" icon (in mobile applications this is sometimes a Yes or No option) on the Trapster Trapmap, or via a mobile application, the color will change.

Yellow Trap Icons: Traps with a yellow icon indicate that the trap in question has been been verified by another user. Once another user takes an action to vote their approval on a green trap, the trap icon will change from green to yellow. When you see yellow traps in Trapster, you can have a little more confidence that these are accurate trap locations. Should you agree or disagree, make sure to add your vote by rating the trap yourself.

Red Trap Icons: This is the highest level of confidence because more users have voted to approve this particular trap. Traps with a red icon indicate the majority of Trapster users agree that this is a legitimate trap. Of course, your vote matters too, so whether you agree or disagree, make sure to add your vote.

Gray Trap Icons: Traps with a gray icon indicate the majority of Trapster users do not believe that this is an accurately reported trap. Since most of the votes are negative, gray traps have a very low confidence level, and though they remain in the system, you won't have to worry about receiving mobile notifications for them.

Live Police Trap

Live Police Traps indicate an active sighting of a police speed trap, or a police vehicle currently observing traffic. Examples of an accurately reported live police trap include police with a radar or laser trap set up, a motorcycle cop with a radar gun, an officer parked on a freeway or on-ramp, or a cruiser hiding near a stop sign to catch vehicles not coming to a complete stop. Live Police Traps automatically expire after one hour, unless other users confirm the live police trap with a positive vote. When reporting a Live Police Trap just remember that the trap should be a live speed trap, so it needs to be actually in progress, and potentially a threat to other drivers.

Known Enforcement Point

Do you know where the cops often camp out in your hometown, neighborhood, or metro area? You can use this knowledge and add Known Enforcement Point traps to the Trapmap on the web or from your phone to alert other drivers just passing through. We tend to see Trapster users reporting hiding spots in abundance, so before you add a new trap, check your surrounding area on the Trapmap for existing hiding spots. You can then add your vote of approval to the traps you believe are frequent hiding spots. Confirmed hiding spots (ie. Known Enforcement Point traps) remain in the system for 3 weeks from the last confirmation, unless they are voted down by a majority of users who disagree with the reported trap.

Red Light Camera

We've all come to loathe red light cameras, you know those cameras that sit alongside tricky stop lights and capture photos of us as we accidentally (hopefully) run a red light. These are the worst, because they typically come with a hefty fine and there's very little we, as citizens, can do to dispute them.

But please be careful not to confuse regular traffic surveillance cameras, found at almost every intersection in metro areas, with actual photoenforcement red light cameras that issue violations. The ones that issue violations have a large box that is the flasher unit. Those are valid Trapster entries. The small ones that are about the size of a big zucchini are not valid Trapster entries.

Red Light Camera traps will remain on the Trapmap unless a majority of users vote their disapproval on any given trap. Of course we'd love it if you reported and voted on all red light cameras in your area (you can use Street View in the Trapmap to confirm). By doing so, you'll help other Trapster users avoid these expensive traffic tickets.

Speed Camera

These fixed photo enforcement speed cameras are typically mounted on poles and monitor your speed as you cruise on the freeway, speedway, or highway. That's right, these little buggers are capturing your speed and will cost you a pricey ticket should you exceed the speeding limit by 10 mph or more.

Unfortunately, more and more speed cameras are being installed across the globe (right now they're popular in Europe but they're starting to show up stateside), so make sure to use Trapster to receive audio alerts, and return the favor by identifying and reporting these cameras when you see them on the road. Just like the rest of fixed traps, Speed Camera traps will remain on the Trapmap unless a majority of users vote their disapproval. Speed cameras are certainly not a friend to drivers, so we hope you'll take the time to add and vote on these devilish traps.

Mobile Speed Camera

Mobile speed cameras are just like speed cameras, but they travel inside moving vans. These vans typically park on the side of the road to capture moving violations in photo form as motorists drive by. Though not as prevalent as other speed traps, mobile speed vans are becoming more common, with usage already in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom.

So if you spot one of these sneaky vehicles trying to monitor speeding traffic on your commute, use the Trapmap and select Mobile Speed Camera as your trap type. Of course, you can also vote your approval or disapproval on existing traps in the system. Since these vans are mobile, and we work hard to keep information accurate and current, Mobile Speed Camera traps are live in the system for 2 hours after the last confirmed report.

Combo Camera

Combo cameras are exactly what they claim to be: combined red light and speed photo enforcement cameras. It follows then that these combo cameras will nab you for both running a red light and speeding while doing so.

Trapster treats Combo Camera traps like most of the others, so reported traps will remain on the Trapmap unless voted down by other users. As always, you can add Combo Camera traps from the web or your mobile application, and vote your approval or disapproval as well.

Checkpoint

Live police checkpoints include sobriety (D.U.I. or D.W.I) checkpoints, roadblocks, and police checkpoints. During holiday weekends, checkpoints are pretty common and can cause huge traffic jams and frustration, not to mention driver anxiety. Trapster can help you avoid these time consuming checkpoints, and get you to your destination with more time to enjoy your holiday. Checkpoint point traps remain live - and update you via audio alerts - until they expire 6 hours after the last confirmed vote of approval.

Note:

Though all functions are available from this Web site, Trapster® is primarily a mobile phone application. Before you can start entering traps, from the site or your mobile phone, you must join the Trapster® community. You can do that now by clicking here. Questions? Please feel free to contact us

School Zone

This trap signifies a School Zone. These static traps do not expire and represent an area on a street near a school or near a crosswalk leading to a school that has a likely presence of pedestrians.

Children at Play

If you see children at play at such places as parks, playgrounds, schools, and cul-de-sacs, make sure to marke it on the trapmap using our Children at Play sign. These traps expire 2 hours after the last confirmed vote of approval.

Car Accident

We've all seen one and maybe even been in one, car accidents. They cause traffic, mayhem, and lots of headaches. If you see a car accident help other users by reporting it right away. These traps expire 2 hour after the last confirmed vote of approval.

Construction Zone

Construction zone, roadwork, anywhere the roads are being worked on that causes backup, congestion, and even dangerous road conditions. These traps expire 5 days after the last vote of approval.

Dangerous Curve

Just as the name of this trap states, dangerous curve. These traps do not expire. However, please be as accurate as possible when reporting traps. We have a team of trapologist here at Trapster that review all traps to make sure they're accurate with the help of google maps.

Dangerous Intersection

You know those intersections, common accidents spots or treacherous conditions that add up to a dangerous intersection.These traps are static and will remain on the map until voted down by numerous users.

Brush Fire

If you happen to spot a brush fire while driving, make sure to report it using this trap. Brush fire traps expire 6 hours after the last vote of approval.

Flooded Road

Flooded road signs expire after 6 hours of the last positive vote.

Ice on Road

Let other users know about icy road conditions with this trap. Ice on road traps expire 4 hours after the last positive vote.

Narrow Bridge

Let other users know about narrow bridges ahead. Especially, helpful for travelers or users new to the area.

Road Closed

Warn drivers of closed roads. These traps last up to 6 hours after the last positive vote.

Road Kill

Not the prettiest thought but road kill can make for a very dangerous road condition and accident. See a dead animal on the side of the road or in the road make sure to let other users know. Road kill traps expire after 6 hours of the last positive vote.

Toll Booth

Let users know of upcoming toll booths, toll roads, or toll stations ahead with this trap.