Smart technology improves traffic law enforcement | Western Cape Government

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Smart technology improves traffic law enforcement

25 August 2016

The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) Transport Management Branch showcased its Integrated Transport Intelligence System (ITIS) at the 10th annual Centre for Public Service Innovation conference held in Cape Town on 23 and 24 August 2016. The system brings together a number of powerful technologies to enable provincial traffic law enforcement to be more efficient and effective. As the system is steadily implemented on more provincial roads, our roads will become safer for everyone.

As a vehicle passes an Average Speed Over Distance (ASOD) camera, the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system retrieves information about the vehicle from eNaTIS (Electronic National Administration Traffic Information System) and other databases.

Retrieved information includes:

  • current registration,
  • vehicle roadworthiness, and
  • whether the driver has exceeded the speed limits between ASOD cameras.

The next phase of ITIS deployment will provide the capacity to determine whether a public transport vehicle has a valid operating permit for that route. If there is a possible infringement, e.g. a vehicle’s registration is no longer valid, an alert is sent to traffic officers’ handheld devices with a clear image of the vehicle and full eNaTIS vehicle information.

If the ASOD system shows the driver was speeding, another infringement alert will be sent to the officer. Control room staff members keep an eye on cameras and can provide officers with further information, e.g., if a vehicle does not match the description linked to its number plate.

Because officers already have information on their handheld devices about approaching vehicles, they can focus on stopping those where possible infringements have been detected. This makes for much more efficient law enforcement than random stops.

When an officer responds to an alert by stopping a vehicle, the system captures the location of the stop. The officer then collects information about the driver and captures it. The device is fitted with a scanner that can read the special bar codes on drivers’ licences, vehicle licences, identity cards, and learner’s licences. Manual information can be added, e.g. when drivers’ licences have expired but they can show they have applied for a new one. Evidence can be gathered about vehicle defects by taking geo-located photographs with the device.

Once the process of gathering information about alleged offences is complete, the officer can immediately print out a Section 56 notice to appear in court on a specific day. Because the driver must sign to show that he or she has received it, the system eliminates current delays in delivering Section 56 notices. 

All notices and activities performed by the officer in the use of the technology are retained for back office administration purposes. A record is created together with an audit trail that serves as evidence of activity. Records can be used to learn from experience and improve the system and practice on the ground. ITIS also sends real-time management information to a dashboard that feeds back information about alerts, where traffic officers are, and what they are doing. This management information can be used to immediately redeploy resources to respond to incidents.

According to Kevin October, Manager of DTPW’s Safely Home programme, there is a high level of interest among other law enforcement agencies, e.g. the City of Cape Town, the South African Police Service, and traffic law enforcement authorities in other provinces.

“In order to deliver the best service to the public and improve public safety, we must embrace the kind of innovation we are developing in ITIS and use it to stay ahead of the game,” he said.

Media Enquiries: 

Byron la Hoe
Communication Officer
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 9813
Cell: 079 281 8570
Email: byron.lahoe@westerncape.gov.za

You can follow the Department of Transport and Public Works on Twitter: @WCGovTPW