For those unfamiliar, the Trafibox a cunning contraption devised by a high-ranking police officer approximately two years ago was subsequently named by the ORFK. It's essentially an 80-centimeter-tall metal box affixed atop a metal pipe of about one meter in height, featuring a small window on one side through which a speed camera (traffipax) peeks out intermittently.

The number of Trafiboxes established by municipalities and operated by the police is on the rise across Hungary. Last May, when last we obtained data from the ORFK, there were merely 46 active devices, with preparations underway for 48 more. The currently functioning total has roughly doubled, and the police hope the expansion won't stop there.

"The main effectiveness of the Trafiboxes lies in their deterrent power, which we believe can be further increased with the expansion of regional coverage," the ORFK states. Here is the full list of the existing 87 operational Trafiboxes.

In addition, municipalities are gearing up to set up another 94 Trafiboxes. "Since the realization of these boxes is at various stages and the timing and locations for their operational deployment are still uncertain due to ongoing expert consultations, we can’t provide exact addresses for these projects in progress," writes the ORFK.

For example, we know for certain that the VI district of Budapest is planning to set up four units. "We've already purchased the Trafiboxes and have signed the installation contract. The Economic and Financial Committee decided last Wednesday on the camera acquisition based on the received bids. We anticipate that all permits for operation will be in place by early summer," replied the Terézváros Municipality upon inquiry.

The four locations are: Andrássy Road at the Izabella Street intersection, Andrássy Road at the Munkácsy Mihály Street intersection, Podmaniczky Street at the Izabella Street intersection, and Podmaniczky Street at the Rippl Rónai Street intersection.

What does the leader of the city with the highest per capita Trafibox deployment say?

Although Szeged has the highest raw number of boxes, totaling nine, relative to its size and population, Törökbálint leads with eight devices. "I recommend them to everyone," replies Deputy Mayor Krisztián Géczy, who is highly satisfied with the Trafiboxes.

"Following their installation, we observed a significant reduction in traffic speed in those areas even before the police put them into service. A few costly photos helped further this cause, but the box itself also has a deterrent effect," says Géczy.

According to Géczy, the public welcomes the boxes, though there were instances of vandalism and some people tried to reorient them. Subsequently, authorities began using cameras to monitor the boxes, ensuring their security.

When asked for advice for municipalities still considering the implementation of Trafiboxes, his response was unequivocal. "I definitely encourage municipalities because the public wants public safety, they want road safety where they live, and given the current deteriorating traffic morals, there is unfortunately a need for these rule-enforcing devices, just as there is for speed bumps and other street furniture."

The deputy mayor also advises that the boxes should be placed within camera-monitored areas. Additionally, if anyone has specific questions, they can reach out to municipal leaders through Vezess.

"To those municipalities thinking about installing the boxes, we are more than happy to help with information, even showing them on-site, as well as sharing some clever tips with the interested parties. Feel free to contact us through our available communication channels," offers Krisztián Géczy.