President Dr Irfaan Ali has bemoaned the recent spate of road fatalities across the country and has promised that technological implements will be used to curb the carnage.
During his address yesterday at the Annual Police Officers’ Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the Commander-in-Cheif of the Armed Forces said technologies such as facial and vehicular license plate recognition will be used to help police intercept lawbreakers. Technological improvements will also be deployed to improve the safety on the roadways to reduce its “reckless use”.
“We cannot continue to lose our precious human resources to preventable road accidents. Our roads are for moving people safely around. They are not racing circuits or local remakes of the Fast and the Furious.”
The Head of State revealed that technologies such as fixed speed radars will be on the main carriageways to identify and photograph persons who use the roads recklessly will be used.
“This will be a costly investment but one that is absolutely essential to stem road carnage.”
Additionally, President Ali shared that fixed digital speed cameras detect the speed of vehicles by using approved electronic sensors that are embedded in the road surface. These sensors accurately measure the speed of the vehicle. If the speed of the vehicle exceeds the legal limit then a digital picture is taken of the offending vehicle.
President Ali also noted that technology has the potential to be a game-changer in policing. This, he explained, is evident from the positive impact that CCTV cameras have had on crime-fighting.
“The police have been able to utilize footage – often from private businesses and homes – to help detect crime and to identify those involved in carrying out criminal activities.”
As a result, the government has allocated $2.5B to not only resuscitate but to expand the Safe City Programme throughout the entire country.
