Kapofi explains five-year delay of traffic cameras
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Safety and security minister Frans Kapofi last week explained to parliament why 12 speed cameras that cost the police N$12 million remain dysfunctional five years after they were erected in parts of the country.
All 12 cameras installed along some of the country’s highways are not functional because the regulatory framework is not yet in place, he told fellow lawmakers.
The cameras formed part of a traffic management system for which the police reportedly paid N$12 million. The contract, awarded to CSS Tactical Security Namibia owned by businessman Amos Shiyuka, was initially worth N$3.7 million but the cost escalated to N$12 million.
The company, responding to questions by Namibian Sun in August, said the price more than tripled after the police demanded additional equipment and services.
Kapofi stressed that the cameras are an important venture aimed at effective traffic management control which will eventually curtail road accidents and save lives.
Trial period
“It is unfortunate that there has been a delay in the operationalisation of the cameras due to the regulatory framework that is not in yet place. Suffice to mention that the current 12 cameras were deployed on a trial basis.
“It was imperative that we tested the system to ensure that it gave us the results we hoped for before we committed more resources to ensure that the entire country was sufficiently covered,” he said.
He also said the software to be used for these cameras is outdated and must be calibrated on a regular basis to ensure its effectiveness.
“Since the project started more than five years ago and the software needs to be updated frequently, it would make no economic sense to update the software in the absence of the regulatory framework,” he said.
These 12 high-tech cameras were installed on the B1 and B2 national roads nearly four years ago and were expected to become part of the traffic law enforcement arsenal by the end of 2018.
The high-tech traffic management system, consisting of instant camera traps in addition to Average Speed Over Distance Cameras (ASOD), plus a range of other functions, have been distributed on the two busiest national roads, with multiple ones stationed between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo, and between Okahandja and Swakopmund.
Namibia records an average of 676 road deaths annually, with men making up 72% of this figure.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Safety and security minister Frans Kapofi last week explained to parliament why 12 speed cameras that cost the police N$12 million remain dysfunctional five years after they were erected in parts of the country.
All 12 cameras installed along some of the country’s highways are not functional because the regulatory framework is not yet in place, he told fellow lawmakers.
The cameras formed part of a traffic management system for which the police reportedly paid N$12 million. The contract, awarded to CSS Tactical Security Namibia owned by businessman Amos Shiyuka, was initially worth N$3.7 million but the cost escalated to N$12 million.
The company, responding to questions by Namibian Sun in August, said the price more than tripled after the police demanded additional equipment and services.
Kapofi stressed that the cameras are an important venture aimed at effective traffic management control which will eventually curtail road accidents and save lives.
Trial period
“It is unfortunate that there has been a delay in the operationalisation of the cameras due to the regulatory framework that is not in yet place. Suffice to mention that the current 12 cameras were deployed on a trial basis.
“It was imperative that we tested the system to ensure that it gave us the results we hoped for before we committed more resources to ensure that the entire country was sufficiently covered,” he said.
He also said the software to be used for these cameras is outdated and must be calibrated on a regular basis to ensure its effectiveness.
“Since the project started more than five years ago and the software needs to be updated frequently, it would make no economic sense to update the software in the absence of the regulatory framework,” he said.
These 12 high-tech cameras were installed on the B1 and B2 national roads nearly four years ago and were expected to become part of the traffic law enforcement arsenal by the end of 2018.
The high-tech traffic management system, consisting of instant camera traps in addition to Average Speed Over Distance Cameras (ASOD), plus a range of other functions, have been distributed on the two busiest national roads, with multiple ones stationed between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo, and between Okahandja and Swakopmund.
Namibia records an average of 676 road deaths annually, with men making up 72% of this figure.
[email protected]
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