The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service as part of its TRAFFITECH-GH Stakeholder Engagement 2023 has held a publication and sensitization for key holders in the Central Region.
The stakeholder engagement was also to launch an automated system developed to enhance the safety of drivers in the region.
Addressing the participants, the Director in charge of Education, Research, and Training of MTTD, Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng said Traffitech-GH is an automated system developed by the Ghana Police Service to enforce road traffic laws and regulations to improve road safety in Ghana.
Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng who also doubled as the Coordinator of the Traffitech-GH Stakeholder Engagement 2023 revealed that the initiative is to deepen the measures of addressing the preventable road crushes and its associated untold hardships on families and the country.
“The perplexing nature of preventable incidents of road crashes, associated deaths and injuries to persons and of course damage to properties, and how it brings untold hardship on our community members in Ghana and families. In light of this, that this problem is being addressed”, he hinted.
To him, even though from the past two years there has been a consistent reduction in crashes as compared with the previous years, it is sad that between January and August over 9,300 preventable crashes happened.
Also between January and August, over 15, 900 vehicles were involved in these crashes leading to the loss of 1,400 compatriots and about 10,000 nursing various degrees of injuries.
Chief Supt. Obeng explained that 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 red lights.
According to him, the Traffitech-GH which will work by deploying fixed, mobile/ in-vehicle and radar gun devices to capture, among others, speeding and jumping red lights will help to instill fear and discipline in drivers and motorists.
“Pictures and/or videos recorded of the offences are automatically transmitted to a back office, for validation and issuance of a notification by SMS indicating location, date, the time of the traffic offence, as well as the vehicle registration number, offence description and payment amount and deadline to the vehicle owner for payment”, he revealed.
He outlined other traffic offences that will be enforced under Traffitech-GH including expired roadworthiness certificate, wrongful overtaking, non-use of seatbelts, use of mobile phones while driving, use of expired license, driving with an uninsured vehicle and abuse of siren, among others.
On his part, the Central Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Charles Kofi Adu indicated that it is known through global best practices that ultimatum traffic law enforcement has resulted in high compliance blow traffic loss and maintaining public order on public road network.
He intimated that Traffictech-GH is important to maintain social order within the communities with the view to promoting a high sense of public trust.
According to him, the sensitization engagement will offer an opportunity for the public to understand and appreciate the project and also make input taking into consideration stakeholder concerns.
“I am convinced that this gathering will provide the needed impetus for public buying and stakeholder support for the smooth take-off,” he said.
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
