The Government has launched a new hi-tech system that combines various services of the Rwanda National Police (RNP)’s Traffic and Road Safety department that were otherwise being handled manually.

The official launch of the IT system was held in Kacyiru and presided over by Justice minister Johnston Busingye, yesterday, and also witnessed by the State Minister for Transport, Alexis Nzahabwanimana, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana, and Deputy IGPs; Dan Munyuza of Operations and Juvenal Marizamunda of Administration and Personnel, among others.

Traffic Police officers will now be using the Hand-Held Terminal (HHT), a newly acquired device that replaces the usual paper traffic fine receipt, motor-vehicle mechanical inspection queues and process of acquiring a driver’s licence.

With the new system, Traffic Police officers will no longer have to confiscate traffic related documents of the offender. The device is used to scan a driver’s licence and the offender receives an instant message indicating the offence and the fine, which can be cleared either through telecom banking systems or VISA payment.

Owners of vehicles will also be booking online to have their automobiles’ mechanical status checked, and they will be receiving instant messages on where, when and the time the vehicle will be inspected.

The new system also has an Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) that can recognise if a vehicle is on the stop or wanted list for certain offences, and can automatically check the validity of the vehicle’s mechanical inspection certificate, insurance, the owner and its crash or traffic offences records.

The launch of the traffic control system coincided with the Police-media end of year interactive session that brings together the police leadership and the media fraternity to discuss ways and means of stronger partnership in policing.

Minister Busingye described the new hi-tech traffic control system as "one of the outstanding milestones that Rwanda National Police should be proud of.”

"This is a unique, fast and accurate IT system that responds to the needs of Rwandans as far as service delivery is concerned,” the minister said.

"We have given Rwandans the right to judge and be accountable to themselves by accessing evidence against them and evaluating their behaviour.”

Power of good infrastructure

Recalling the period when Police operation was 100 per cent manual, Busingye said modernised road traffic services have continued to supplement the development agenda, adding that insecure roads can affect all sectors, from finance, education and health to tourism, thus affecting the economy and social wellbeing.

Police statistics show that fatal accidents reduced by 37 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2015.

Minister Busingye also thanked the fourth estate – the media – for informing and educating Rwandans and being the "power of change.”

He outlined corruption and embezzlement, drug abuse and gender based violence as some of the crimes that destroy nations, which should be fought jointly with the media.

"We are in the struggle of choice… whatever is done has to be in line with the set development agenda. We can’t allow crimes and accidents to stand in our way, and the media equally plays a big role in this line,” Busingye said.

Meanwhile, George Rumanzi, the commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety department, said the new IT initiatives come to address a lot of challenges that existed, including registering and processing of driver’s license and authenticity, elimination of fraud in driver’s identity and forgery; checking of driver’s records (offences and defaulters), easy and cashless payment and verification, among others.

"The system is built in such a way that all data will be transferred in real time, analysed quickly and action taken using scientific facts,” said Rumanzi.

The system has a data base that also connects other players, including Rwanda Revenue Authority, the National Identification Agency and telecom companies that send instant messages.

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