If information saves life (and it does) then Kelly Fox has saved plenty since launching into the hurly burly world of the TrafficSphere.
Kelly Fox is the mastermind behind the popular Facebook page that deals with up-to-date Traffic issues in Kāpiti – Horowhenua-Wellington. (see link below)
Kelly, effervescent as always, told KCNews the page started in December 2018 and grew like crazy over that summer to have 10,000 members by July.
“I just started it as a community page. Lots of people wanted to know what the traffic out there was like and this was the response.”
Kelly says every time there was a crash another 200-500 would join.
“In 2019 there were lots of crashes between Levin and Ōtaki in particular and the big incidents were the catalyst for growth of the page.”
And it has certainly grown. Kelly has seen the 10,000 become an amazing 82,500 and it has become the absolute go to page for updates on traffic information.
Kelly’s massive contribution was recognised on national television when she was highlighted in the Good Sorts segment with the headline: Wellington woman helps city drivers navigate traffic woes.
Of course she does a lot more than that and her page has become a home for community input with motorists not only seeking information but also supplying eyewitness accounts of events, delays, crashes, road conditions and more.
Kelly Fox lived beside one the busiest spots on State Highway 1, a notorious place for gridlock, which gave her the idea.
“Of all places I was in my parents’ pool, up on State Highway 1 – having a beer and looking at all the traffic lining up.”
She says while in the pool watching traffic, she had a moment of clarity.
“I just sat there watching them and thought these people don’t know why they are stopped – what’s happening up ahead.”
Out came the cell phone and seconds later she had created a Facebook page.
Kelly says the page was designed to tell people what’s happening on the roads around the Wellington region and the name makes it clear.
Traffic Updates – Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wellington
Kelly has built up a lot of contacts in a lot of places, including road workers, paramedics, some police, and media and this helps build the up-to-date information available on her page.
Just over a year ago in an interview with TV1 News, Kelly said, “the page has just ticked over 50,000 members which I would never have dreamed of.” Now it is 82,500 and still climbing.
Despite also working as a part time Technical Producer in radio Kelly’s page keeps ticking away and she maintains it 24/7 for free.
Kelly says she gets great feedback from the public. “I get a lot of cool messages from people saying thank you, you saved me an hour in traffic. That’s exactly why I do it.”
Not sure if Waka Kotahi have special awards to hand out but if they do look no further – Kelly Fox, and you will find her superb contribution at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/518355278684596