Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu, Harare Buareau
MORE than four million traffic violations have been captured by the new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered electronic traffic management system, with the authorities now pursuing offenders as the crackdown on bad driving behaviour gathers momentum.
The authorities say the offences, detected by cameras installed at strategic intersections in the city, include running red traffic lights, going against the flow of traffic, picking up and dropping off passengers at undesignated places, speeding, using mobile phones while driving and travelling without fastened seatbelts.
The huge number of violations detected since the deployment of the system has prompted the authorities to intensify the crackdown on motorists who disregard traffic laws, with some offenders already being called in to pay fines.
The number of offences has leapt from 2,3 million in mid-August to over four million by the end of September, a rise of nearly 74 percent, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
The Government says the huge number of offences points to the scale of traffic-law violations across Harare.
However, the recorded offences are first being subjected to a verification process before motorists are penalised to ensure that only genuine violations result in enforcement action.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Ambassador Raphael Faranisi said preparations for the formal commissioning of the system by President Mnangagwa were being finalised.
“The system is set to be commissioned by President Mnangagwa soon. However, authorities have started contacting some of the offenders for fining,” he said.
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“We have also been verifying some of the offences and those guilty of offences are then contacted.
“We have opened an account at CBZ Bank where offenders are paying the fines. This was done to ensure limited human contact and reduce corruption.”
The authorities are also finalising an online platform that will allow motorists to pay fines electronically, with the system expected to reduce the need for offenders to physically visit enforcement offices or interact with officials.
Comm Paul Nyathi said more than four million violations had been detected to date, with some of the major offences involving dangerous manoeuvres and illegal passenger loading.
“Over four million violators have been detected by the cameras to date and some of the violations include driving through red traffic lights, driving towards oncoming vehicles and picking up and dropping off passengers in the middle of the road,” he said.
“We are now working on finalising fine-paying modalities.”
The automated enforcement system is being implemented under Phase One of the Smart Traffic Management and Surveillance Programme, a joint initiative involving the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and TelOne.
Twenty cameras have so far been installed at strategic intersections along major roads in Harare, with the Government planning to eventually deploy more than 300 high-tech cameras in the capital before expanding the programme to other cities.
Unlike conventional traffic enforcement, which relies heavily on police officers physically observing motorists, the new system allows roads to be monitored continuously, including outside the periods when traffic officers are deployed.
The cameras are designed to detect a range of violations.
The system is also intended to provide the authorities with real-time information on traffic movements, allowing them to identify congestion, major traffic bottlenecks and road incidents more quickly.
The authorities say the technology is part of wider efforts to improve traffic management in Harare, where a rapidly growing vehicle population has contributed to increasing congestion on major roads.
Blessing Chizhande