malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE smart traffic management system (STMS) that the Government is working on will be able to curb violation of road rules by drivers through leveraging advanced technologies to optimise traffic flow, enhance safety and improve overall efficiency in transportation networks, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has said.
In May this year, Cabinet approved the engagement of Dubai-based Vitronic Machine Vision Middle East to help deploy the system, which will be rolled out in the major metropolises of Harare and Bulawayo to curb corruption, road carnage and enforce the law by bringing to book all those who violate regulations.
The company has installed similar systems in Morocco, Rwanda, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany and Belarus, among other countries.
“The system is going to consist of cameras to detect offenders without the interference or interface of human beings,” said Minister Kazembe while speaking at the Zimpapers Safe Driving Campaign and Conference, organised by The Sunday Mail, in the capital on Friday.
“Those who have been to Dubai, UK and China know that you might not see (traffic) police officers on the road, but the drivers are well-behaved.
“It is because of technologies. You speed, the system will detect that you are speeding. And the system, because it will be linked to CVR (Central Vehicle Registry) and Local Government, if you misbehave, it will be able to recognise your number plate and your face as well — this happens in real-time — and a ticket is issued.”
The STMS, he said, leverages advanced technologies to optimise traffic flow, enhance safety and improve overall efficiency in transportation networks.
“It integrates various players, data analytics and communication systems to monitor, control and manage traffic systems in real-time . . . It enhances monitoring of traffic behaviour and to catch and deter traffic offences like speeding, running red lights and illegal parking.”
Minister Kazembe also said, subject to provisions of the law, the Government would also want to go further to enable the system to debit the accounts of offenders.
“But we want to go further, if the laws allow us. This happens elsewhere. We want to go further and be allowed to take money (fine) from the offenders’ account.”
The biggest problem that we have on our roads, he added, is the behaviour of motorists, some of whom neither respect road signs nor road rules and regulations.
Safety on the roads, he said, was a collective responsibility.
“If you see a driver misbehaving, do something about it. You do not know how many people you are going to save,” he said.
“No one, including top officials, should be treated differently at roadblocks. Every vehicle must be checked; every driver must be checked.
“You will be shocked . . . Do you know that some of these people with big names do not have driver’s licences? Those are the people who cause road accidents.”
Carnage
In an earlier presentation, Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the country recorded more road traffic accidents and deaths in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year.
“Total accidents that took place in 2023 were 32 618, with 1 253 people killed, whilst 6 639 were injured.
“In 2024, for January to August, 34 719 accidents were recorded, with 1 352 people killed. The total number of people injured so far is 6 514,” he said.
“Road carnage is on the rise, as shown by an increase in accidents from January 2024 to August 2024 compared to the same period last year. There are so many causes of accidents but most of them are caused by human error.”
Comm Nyathi said other main causes of accidents include “following too close, speeding, failing to give way, overtaking errors, reversing errors, misjudgement or inattention and overloading”.
Pirate taxi operators are also considered a menace on the roads.
“Pirate taxis (mushikashika) are on the increase and they are picking up and dropping passengers at undesignated points, driving against one way, passing through red robots,” added Comm Nyathi.
Despite the Government’s efforts, spearheaded by President Mnangagwa, to rehabilitate roads nationwide, some motorists were taking advantage of this to speed.
Police presently have an operation code-named “No to Lawlessness on the Road”, through which it has managed to make a significant number of arrests.
Through the operation, which began on August 26, 39 587 arrests were made.
Police are also in the process of acquiring gadgets to nab reckless drivers.
Traffic expert Mr Tatenda Chinoda said a vibrant national call centre should be established for citizens to report incidents of reckless driving.
The Zimpapers Safe Driving Campaign and Conference was held under the theme “Reduce Road Carnage: Stop. Think. Act”.
Online Reporter