The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has revealed that they have officially launched a new Instant Fines Traffic Management System, which shall be its tool to monitor traffic rule enforcement in the entire country.
Through a public announcement made by the authority on their social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the system is now fully live and will automatically send a message to offenders informing them about their violations. The automated system has the potential to change a lot and bring efficiency, transparency, and accountability to the way traffic offences are handled.
The authority explained that the digital system is a fully automated ticketing system which auto, generates phone messages/communications to the users of the road infringing the law without human intervention, thereby not only significantly reducing possibilities of the system being manipulated or delays in enforcement but also ensuring timely action is taken. Those who commit violations will be informed of their actions as well as the punishments via text message.
Motorists will be given seven working days to make their payment after the issuance of the vehicle operation suspension order letter. The authority mentioned that if the fine is not paid within the seven-day time frame, additional penalties, including interest on the outstanding amount, will be applied.
In fact, vehicles or drivers who have unpaid fines will not be allowed to do any transaction on NTSA service platforms until the respective penalties are paid. Thus, centres for the service of vehicle registration, licensing, and other regulatory processes by the authority will also be inaccessible.
According to NTSA, the new system is one of the ways to improve the enforcement of road safety and compliance with traffic laws by motorists. The authority believes that the introduction of the automated management of traffic fines will reduce corruption, increase compliance, and encourage responsible driving.
The public has been advised to be prudent in the observance of all traffic regulations and to react promptly to any official notification through the system. NTSA added that further communication about the system will be through official government channels and advice.