We’ll take steps to notify motorists of speed cameras as part of Traffictech implementation – NRSA

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) says it will consider giving motorists adequate notice of speed cameras under the Traffictech-GH system to ensure fairness in the enforcement of road traffic regulations.

The Director-General of the Authority, Abraham Amaliba, said the NRSA would engage the relevant road infrastructure agencies to install signs warning motorists about the presence of speed cameras on roads where the system is being deployed.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Wednesday, November 4, during a discussion on Ghana's road safety blueprint, Mr Amaliba explained that motorists should already be aware that the cameras could be deployed on roads where speed limits were clearly displayed, particularly following the public education on the Traffictech system.

He acknowledged the concerns that failing to provide specific warnings about speed cameras could create the impression that authorities were deliberately setting motorists up to be caught and fined.

He said he agreed that drivers should be given sufficient notice before enforcement began in particular areas.

"Once you have the signage which says 50 km/h, as a driver, you should know that with the rollout of Traffictech, a camera will be there watching you," he said.

"But I agree that we need to give motorists notice a fair time, and we'll consider that," he added.

Mr Amaliba explained that the NRSA would continue using mobile speed cameras mounted on vehicles alongside fixed cameras installed at strategic locations.

He said the mobile units would be moved from one location to another, particularly in areas identified as prone to speeding.

According to him, the mobile cameras would complement fixed installations rather than replace them, as it would not be practical to install permanent cameras on every road across the country.

"No, these mobile vehicles will be shifting there because there are areas that are prone to overspeeding," he said.

"So, if you don't have a camera there, this vehicle would move there to start taking the videos. The mobile cameras on the vehicles are supposed to augment the still cameras or, if you want, those fixed on the poles."

He said that mobile cameras remained necessary to extend surveillance to roads without permanent monitoring equipment.

"We cannot have cameras on all our roads in the country. So these mobile cameras are still relevant. We'll still be using them," he said.

Mr Amaliba said agencies such as the Department of Urban Roads, the Department of Feeder Roads and the Ghana Highway Authority were responsible for providing the necessary signs.

He was responding to concerns about whether motorists would be informed in advance when approaching roads monitored by speed cameras.

Mr Amaliba said the road agencies would have to install signs indicating that cameras were monitoring motorists on particular stretches.

"That is for the road infrastructure agencies to begin to put those things there," he said.

"We have the road infrastructure agencies like Urban Roads, Feeder Roads, Highways. So they have the responsibility to put those signs there to indicate that on this road we have a camera watching you."

Mr Amaliba further disclosed that the Traffictech system would use different forms of camera technology, including fixed cameras, mobile units mounted on vehicles and cameras installed on tripods.

He said the tripod-mounted equipment could be positioned along roads to monitor speeding, in a manner similar to the equipment used by surveyors when carrying out road measurements.

Explaining the different arrangements, he said motorists could encounter cameras mounted on tripods, mobile surveillance vehicles or fixed installations.

"And what we have now is a tripod. Sometimes you can see a tripod on the road, like the engineers or the surveyors. You see the surveyors always have a tripod trying to do their work on the road. It could be like that," he explained.

He added that all the different forms of technology would remain in use as part of the country's digital traffic enforcement system.

"So you also have the vehicles, and then we have the fixed one. So all of this is the gamut of technology that we are using. So none is going to replace the other," he said.