By Rathindra Kuruwita

The initiative launched by the police to identify traffic offenders through CCTV cameras would come into full force from 01 February, Director – Traffic Administration and Road Safety division, DIG Indika Hapugoda said.

Hapugoda said that the system had been in operation as a pilot project from January 22 to 28 in Colombo. During the pilot phase, no legal action would be taken against the drivers nabbed with the help of CCTV, he added.

“Within the initial 36 hours, we have identified nearly 300 violators of traffic laws. Steps have been taken to inform vehicle owners of the evidence the police possess of their road rule violations. It’s important to note that legal action will not be instituted during this phase. Between January 28 and 31, we will conduct a thorough review of the project to identify weaknesses and determine improvement of strategies. Subsequently, action will be taken against road rule violators from 01 February,” DIG Hapugoda said.

He said that being a traffic policeman was among the most challenging occupations. At the conclusion of 2023, Sri Lanka had registered over 8.3 million motor vehicles of which 4.8 million were motorcycles. Additionally, there were approximately 1.2 million trishaws in the country. “Sri Lanka has an extensive road network spanning around 119,350 km. The country has 607 police stations with dedicated traffic divisions. Complementing these efforts is a robust patrol motorcycle unit comprising 297 high-performance bikes with a capacity of 600CC each. A total of around 9,600 traffic policemen contribute to road safety, with approximately 4,600 actively patrolling at any given moment. Thanks to the diligent efforts of these officers, the incidence of serious motor accidents decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year. The current project is aimed at streamlining and facilitating their demanding responsibilities,” he said.

DIG (Telecom Engineering), Thushara Gamlath said that the entire process was not automated.”Upon detecting a motorist violating a road rule, the procedure involves assigning a specific violation number and extracting the corresponding video footage. Subsequently, another officer is tasked with identifying the owner of the vehicle by utilising the number plate information. Access to the Department of Motor Traffic’s database facilitates obtaining ownership details. Once the necessary information about the particular vehicle owner is ascertained, notices are sent to both the police station where the traffic violation occurred and the nearest police station to the vehicle owner’s address. This entire process is completed within a day,” he said.

Upon discovering a traffic law violation, the vehicle owner is promptly notified. The owner has the option to pay the fine, and once the payment is made, the corresponding police station informs the CCTV division.

If the vehicle owners needed more information, three copies of the footage are obtained and forwarded to the relevant police, accompanied by an affidavit from the vehicle owner. Subsequently, legal action can be instituted under the Evidence (Special Provisions) Act (No. 14 of 1995), if necessary, he said.

Responding to criticisms, particularly from bus owners’ associations urging the police to establish a Bus Priority Lane (BPL) before implementing this system, DIG Hapugoda said despite most Sri Lankan roads having only two-lanes, there were a few designated BPL areas in the country.

Hapugoda said, “There is a functioning BPL from the Polduwa Junction to Lotus Tower, operational between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., as well as from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. However, problems have arisen, such as three-wheeler drivers expressing concerns about their ability to pick up or drop off passengers along the roadside during these periods. Despite these issues, the BPL has proven to be successful. But the entry of trishaws or motorcycles into the bus lane can disrupt the traffic flow.”

Approximately 500,000 vehicles enter the City of Colombo daily, according to DIG Hapugoda. Tragically, around seven individuals lost their lives each day in road accidents, he said.

The introduction of the Easy Cash system would allow individuals to promptly settle fines. Additionally, a de-merit system is in the pipeline for drivers, commencing with an initial allocation of 24 points at the beginning of the year. Points will be deducted for every violation, and if a driver exhausted all 24 points, he or she would face driving restrictions.

DIG Hapugoda highlighted that approximately 10 to 12 percent of vehicles on roads lacked proper documentation; they had open papers. That practice was unlawful, and the CCTV system aims to assist the police in identifying individuals operating vehicles with incomplete paperwork. According to Hapugoda, it is mandatory for a person selling a vehicle to notify the Department of Motor Traffic of the sale within 14 days.

He emphasised that “The new owner is also required to inform the department about the purchase of the vehicle.”

In situations where a vehicle owner has either rented out a vehicle or employed a driver, Hapugoda stressed the owner must be able to provide information about the driver in the event of a traffic law violation.

“Policemen will approach the owner, who is required to identify the person behind the wheel. Subsequently, law enforcement will proceed to locate the individual responsible for the violation,” said.