The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has removed thousands of illegally installed vehicle sirens as part of an ongoing operation to enforce road traffic regulations, according to ACP Alexander Obeng.
ACP Obeng, who is also the Project Coordinator for the Traffitech initiative, said the exercise had been underway for the past six months, with officers targeting motorists who unlawfully use sirens.
Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile, he said officers were physically stopping vehicles suspected of carrying illegal sirens, inspecting them and removing the devices where necessary.
He explained that in some instances, officers had to cut out the sirens, adding that the operation was part of efforts to ensure compliance with Regulation 89 of the Road Traffic Regulations.
On the use of Traffitech to deal with other traffic violations, ACP Obeng said the system could capture motorists who drive against traffic or exceed speed limits.
However, he stressed that automated enforcement was being carried out alongside conventional police operations, with officers continuing to enforce traffic laws physically across the country.
He cited an ongoing operation on the N1 Highway at Kasoa, where officers were stopping motorists who violated traffic rules.
Addressing concerns about the inclusion of motorbikes and tricycles in the automated enforcement system, he said vehicles with valid registration and number plates could be captured either through automated or manual enforcement.
ACP Obeng also assured the public that the necessary calibration would be undertaken for vehicles and equipment requiring it.
He said motorists would soon begin seeing additional camera and speed-limit signs indicating locations where in-vehicle cameras were being deployed.
The MTTD Project Coordinator said enforcement was already taking place on roads where speed-limit signs were clearly displayed.
He mentioned the stretch between School Junction and Borteyman, where the speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour, but some motorists reportedly drive at speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour.
He also cited Boundary Road and the stretch from the Mahama Roundabout towards Congo Junction, through the Barracks, where the speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour but motorists were allegedly recording average speeds of about 110 kilometres per hour.
According to him, the department was capturing motorists who disregarded clearly displayed speed-limit signs.
ACP Obeng said the initiative was already producing encouraging results, particularly in changing motorists’ behaviour towards speeding.
He indicated that the MTTD had observed a noticeable shift in driving habits, with motorists becoming more conscious of speed limits.
He further said the department’s data showed a sudden reduction in road crashes across the country as caution notices were being issued, adding that improved compliance and police enforcement were among the key objectives of the initiative.
By Gifty Boateng