Over 2,000 speeding tickets issued in first month of new traffic system rollout – Traffic Chief

More than 2,000 speeding tickets were issued within the first month of the automated electronic ticketing system coming into effect, according to Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh. The automated speed ticketing system was officially implemented on April 7 to detect and issue tickets for speeding violations.

With the new system, when a traffic offence is committed, the vehicle owner is issued a ticket. The Traffic Chief on Thursday stated that even though the vehicle owner is held responsible, the person driving the vehicle at the time can also be taken to court.

“The date on the ticket which is for the appearance in court to contest the ticket that owner must take the driver with them to court and or inform the court if they don’t take the driver so that the magistrate can be informed as to who was driving at the time,” Singh explained.

Adding: “That person [driver] will now be made a co-defendant in the matter. Liability rests with that person at the time unless or until that person is produced. If he/she is not produced as the driver at the time the liability rests with the owner.”

The tickets are distributed in alignment with the recent amendments to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02.

Payments can be made via any MMG agent across the country using the respective ticket number of by simply scanning the QR code on the document.

Failure to pay the ticket can lead to the magistrate issuing a summon or warrant, dictating payment which can also lead to one being arrested.

The Traffic Chief urged responsibility to road users especially the vehicle owners.

“Am I supposed to be irresponsible to lend, give or support someone who is going to be irresponsible on the road and then behave as if I’m lost or have an excuse to make? No, I don’t think so,” he said.

The system works on a 24-hour basis. It used advanced speed cameras and radar speed signs connected to cloud-based infrastructure to detect and ticket speeding violations. I

t is currently being rolled out across the country as Singh said “this is not a phased approach, it is countrywide.”

“You cannot operate willy-nilly as you previously did. Road safety was a backburner issue for motor vehicle owners. Now you are made to be principally responsible for your actions,” the Traffic Chief said to road users.

However, the system also helps identify additional traffic violations.

“The importance of the system is that it enables us to also recognise other offences committed – prohibition of tinted glass based on what you see physically in front of you, also obscure ID marking,” Singh said.

According to the Traffic Chief, the new traffic management system is not only increasing accountability but is also improving the overall quality of traffic enforcement.

“This system is helping us now to do more smart traffic management. It is less conflicting with the public, and it also takes away the ability from us rendering a poorer quality of service, as we are usually accused of,” he said.