From tomorrow, Sunday, November 1, 2026, a new automated traffic system will me rolled out.
The initial monitoring, we are informed, will start in the regional capitals.
This new sheriff in town is known as Traffitec-GH.
It will be under the auspices of the Ghana Police and will work non-stop, 24 hours a day.
Already, one understands that piloting of the system has been ongoing for some time.
The piloting was for the police to test the waters, just like any other major new system whose introduction could drastically change the status quo.
So far, there have been some extensive media information out there for the benefit of the public.
Extensive to the extent that drivers of some commercial public transport, commonly known as “tro-tro” have come out to voice their concerns about traders and other sellers who have set up businesses on the sides of some roads, pavements and bus stops, and called for them to be cleared.
Their reason is that such practices interfere with the pickup and dropoff of passengers, an act which most often forces them to break some road traffic regulations.
Traffic offence monitoring
The gist of this new police traffic offence monitoring is that the mounted automated systems are programmed to check offences like speeding, reportedly, one of the most occurring road habits which cause crashes.
Such crashes are said to be the major cause of road accidents.
Speeding, according to available statistics, accounts for 62 of every 100 crashes.
The new road traffic police which neither slumbers nor sleeps, will also check offences like jumping red lights and crossing white lines at traffic lights.
Also included is speeding at zebra crossings and dangerous overtaking, among others.
We are told that should a driver be caught on camera for a road traffic offence as laid out by Traffitec-GH, a fine, depending on the wrongdoing, is sent to the offender’s phone, with an indication of the offence, date, time and where it happened .
One is given 14 days to settle the fine.
Any default attracts an increase in the fine.
Much as one would like to welcome this new traffic automated system which can inject some decency, judging by the level of indiscipline on our roads, the balance on the other side of the equation is how ready are our roads?
Are those responsible-Road Safety Authority, Department of Urban Roads and the Assemblies— together putting our inner city roads in presentable shape, ready for these new measures?
Nature of roads
The bumpy nature of some roads, the potholes, some of which have developed into manholes, are too many and make driving costly.
We are in the dry season so one would have thought that this is a decent time to work on potholes and any such problems.
But no, all is quiet.
Some traffic lights, even at major intersections in the city, for example, are habitually out of order, making driving to cross always dangerous.
Some of the lights get knocked down by reckless drivers.
Will the automated system capture and fine those who knock down traffic lights or run into curbs?
Admittedly, some roads like the George Bush Highway are adequately marked but the story is disappointing on some other roads.
Road markings either do not exist at all, and where they do, they are badly faded, including zebra crossings and white lines at traffic lights.
Apart from missing road markings, someone also needs to look at road signs at give ways, on nearing road bumps, approaching or at roundabouts and zebra crossings.
Advertisers’ billboards and banners have been sited dangerously at some junctions, completely blocking the views of drivers.
Is anyone going to ensure all such nuisance are taken care of to make the roads safe for drivers to operate safely in return?
The cry by tro-tro drivers regarding the capture of road sides and pavements by traders is very much on point.
In some areas, and under the watch of the Assemblies, secondhand vehicle tyres are spread out on pavements with tyre repairs occupying part thereof.
They cause traffic nuisance whenever vehicles stop to use their services.
And how one wishes these cameras will put fear in those criminals who have been removing metal drainage covers and exposing gaping holes, sometimes in the middle of the road.
Will the cameras be focused on those criminals and make them pay for their selfish and criminal behaviours?
While one is in agreement with proper discipline on our roads and hence support the introduction of Traffitec-GH, courtesies need to be extended to road users as well.
If the same roads that drivers drive on are bedevilled with problems, how fair is it for the traffic police to impose sanctions when the roads are not conducive in the first place?
In any case, motor cycle and tricycle riders should be warned as well and monitored closely too.
They are one of the worst trouble makers on our roads, and should not be left to go scot free.
The automated system, supported with human monitors, should be on their backs too.
We all look forward to the day when driving on our roads would be captured as one of the safest and orderly in the sub-region.
Welcome aboard, Traffitec-GH.
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