TRAFFITECH-GH: EMERGENCY , SECURITY VEHICLES EXEMPT FROM SPEEDING TICKETS

The Director of Research, Education and Training of the MTTD, Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng, told the Daily Graphic in Accra last Monday, that the exemption would not extend automatically to private vehicles used by public officials, police officers or other persons. “If the vehicle is a recognised emergency or security vehicle and we have the data on it, the system will identify it. But if a police officer is driving his own private vehicle or a vehicle belonging to a ministry, department or agency without the required exemption, that vehicle does not qualify. The ticket will therefore be issued,” he said. Vehicle ownership Chief Supt Obeng explained that the automated enforcement system, which is scheduled for implementation from November 1 this year, would rely on vehicle registration and other databases to identify vehicles and issue electronic traffic tickets to owners who commit offences. He also cautioned vehicle owners who had sold their vehicles but failed to transfer ownership at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to regularise their records to avoid being held responsible for offences committed by the new owners. He said the automated system would send tickets to the person whose name appeared on the vehicle register, regardless of whether the vehicle had changed hands. “The ticket will go to the owner whose name is on the vehicle register. So, we are admonishing vehicle owners who have sold their vehicles to go to DVLA and change the name on the vehicle register. Until the new owner is properly onboarded, the system will continue to recognise the person whose name is on the register,” he said. Manual management He added that the service had begun preparations for the eventual introduction of handheld Police Digital Devices, which would enable officers to gather and process evidence on a wider range of traffic offences. New date , Meanwhile, the GPS has rescheduled the full implementation of the automated traffic law enforcement programme, TRAFFITECH-GH, from October 1 to November 1, 2026. This is to allow for more extensive public awareness and education on the programme before its full rollout. Chief Supt Obeng said the introduction of automated enforcement would not eliminate the manual management of traffic by police officers. He said officers would continue to manage traffic, respond to crashes and undertake targeted enforcement where necessary, while the automated system would complement existing policing methods. In a statement issued by the Police Service on September 29, it said the additional public education would cover the operations of TRAFFITECH-GH, the traffic offences to be detected and the Electronic Notices of Violation (ENV) to be issued to offending motorists. The service urged motorists, drivers and vehicle owners to use the additional period to familiarise themselves with the programme ahead of the November 1 rollout.