-cameras will capture images of defaulters
The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2024 which seeks to address deep concerns over road traffic accidents and deaths in the country was passed in Parliament late Monday night.
According to Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who presented the bill, the number of vehicles on the road has increased significantly, with a 120% increase in lorries, 300% increase in minibuses, and a doubling of pickup trucks and tractors between 2020 and 2023. This has led to a surge in road accidents and deaths, with 139 deaths recorded in 2020, 99 in 2021 and 2022, and 175 in 2023.
The bill proposes the introduction of an intelligent electronic rule interface system, which will capture photographic images and videos of vehicles and persons on the road, as well as radar systems to detect speeding vehicles. The data captured will be stored in a database and can be used as evidence to charge or prosecute offenders.