The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has observed a positive change in driver behaviour on Ghana's roads since the introduction of the TraffiTech-GH system. According to Director of Education, Research and Training at the MTTD, ACP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, motorists are increasingly reducing their speed. This development is attributed to the system's effectiveness in promoting road discipline.
ACP Obeng, in an interview on TV3's Hot Issues, explained that vehicle owners have been receiving electronic speeding tickets, which has led to them cautioning their drivers against speeding. Vehicle owners have been calling their drivers to warn them against speeding after receiving notifications of traffic violations. This has resulted in drivers slowing down, with ACP Obeng describing the system as a nice strategy to promote road discipline.
The TraffiTech-GH system has been designed to encourage compliance with road traffic regulations and improve driving behaviour. Under the current law, repeated speeding violations attract payment of fines rather than automatic revocation of a vehicle owner's driving licence. ACP Obeng clarified that receiving speeding tickets by vehicle owners does not automatically affect their driving licences.
ACP Obeng further explained that the system has led to a change in behaviour empirically on the roads since its rollout. Drivers are slowing down due to vehicle owners' warnings, and this is what is being observed. The MTTD is optimistic about the system's impact on road safety in Ghana.
The introduction of TraffiTech-GH has been a collaborative effort between the Ghana Police Service and other stakeholders to reduce road crashes and improve road safety. The system uses technology to monitor and enforce traffic regulations, providing real-time data on traffic violations.
According to ACP Obeng, the current law does not provide for the automatic revocation of a vehicle owner's driving licence for speeding. Instead, vehicle owners who receive multiple speeding tickets will have to pay fines for each offence. This approach aims to encourage vehicle owners to take responsibility for their drivers' actions.
The Ghana Police Service is committed to sustaining the TraffiTech-GH system to promote road discipline and improve road safety. The MTTD will continue to monitor and evaluate the system's impact, making adjustments as necessary to achieve its goals. The police service is optimistic that the system will contribute to reducing road crashes and improving road safety in Ghana.
Key points
- The TraffiTech-GH system has led to improved driver behaviour on Ghana's roads, with motorists increasingly reducing their speed.
