The Ghana Police Service has launched a nationwide automated system known as Traffitech-GH to clampdown on the increasing road traffic violations which leads to dozens of road crushes, injuries and deaths.
The new technology is expected to propel the police service a notch higher in enforcing Road Traffic Laws and Regulations, 2012, (LI 2180) as amended to improve road safety in the country.
The system uses cameras and sensors to automatically take a picture and or video of vehicles that flout road traffic laws and regulations such as speeding and jumping of redlight.
The pictures and or videos recorded of the offence are automatically transmitted to a back office for validation and issuance of a notification by SMS to the vehicle owner for payment.
At a stakeholder sensitization forum held in Tamale on Wednesday, August 30, the Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Duuti Tuaruka, on behalf of the Director General of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service and the Inspector General of Police, said with the implementation of Traffitech-GH, the Police through the MTTD will deploy traffic enforcement cameras to detect, apprehend and prosecute traffic offenders to improve public safety in Ghana.
He noted the technology will further enable the police impose appropriate automated fines with the view to increasing deterrence and compliance with road traffic laws and regulations.
“TraffiTech-GH is important to maintain social order within the communities with the view to promoting high sense of public trust in the police, facilitating law abiding behaviours, foster compliance and cooperation at the same time and increase the rate of detecting road traffic offences” he stated.
Meanwhile, in line with the dictates of the project, the Ghana Police Service (MTTD) with the support from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Insurance Commission (NIC) among other relevant state institutions are presently rolling out a system with the view to change road user behaviour related to red-light violations, speeding, vehicle road worthiness, vehicle insurance, seatbelts / crash helmets, using communication device whiles driving, wrongful parking, driving on the shoulder of the road among others.
DCOP Duuti Tuaruka therefore underscored the significance of the nationwide comprehensive communication and sensitization programme which he added will be done in all regions and strategic locations.
He emphasized that the exercise will offer opportunity for the public to understand and appreciate the project, and also make inputs taking into consideration stakeholder concerns including transport operators, vehicle owners, drivers, motor riders, CSOs, and the media.
“I am convinced that this gathering will provide the needed impetus for public buy-ins and stakeholder support for the smooth take-off” he stated.
