Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has called for a legal challenge to the newly introduced Traffitech-GH system, questioning the fairness of imposing speeding fines on motorists without adequately informing them of applicable speed limits.
In a Facebook post on Monday, November 2, Mr Azure Awuni argued that motorists should not be expected to comply with speed restrictions in areas where authorities have failed to provide visible road signs indicating the limits.
His comments follow the introduction of the Traffitech-GH system, which took effect on Sunday, November 1, to penalise drivers who exceed designated speed limits.
Citing the 30-kilometre-per-hour speed limit around school zones, he questioned how motorists could be expected to observe such restrictions when some schools do not have signposts indicating their presence.
He maintained that the inability of motorists to identify the applicable speed limits should not automatically be treated as an excuse for non-compliance when the state has failed to provide the necessary information.
Drawing from his nearly three years of driving experience in the United States, Mr Awuni said road signs and traffic regulations are clearly displayed, particularly on highways and inter-city roads, allowing motorists to easily identify speed limits and other restrictions. “I drove in the US for nearly three years.
There, road signs and regulations abound in inter-city areas and on the highways. And because they are clearly marked, the maps on your phone tell you the speed limit, not just directions,” he stated.
He further called on authorities to ensure that speed limits, road lanes and areas monitored by speed cameras are clearly marked to guide motorists.
The investigative journalist also urged city authorities to reduce commercial, church and funeral billboards that obstruct drivers’ visibility, particularly around traffic lights, and replace them with adequate road signs.
According to him, although drivers have a responsibility to obey traffic regulations, the state must also fulfil its responsibility of providing clear information about the rules governing the roads.
He stressed that if the objective of the Traffitech-GH system is to improve road safety rather than generate revenue through penalties, authorities must first ensure that motorists are adequately informed.
“If the aim of Traffitech is to keep our roads safe and not to spring surprises on motorists and make money, the state should help drivers to know where and what regulation applies,” he stated.
Mr Azure Awuni consequently suggested that a court should determine whether it is fair to punish a motorist for violating a speed restriction in a school zone when authorities have failed to provide signs indicating the presence of the school.
Source: Abigail Ekua Arhin
