How technology can advance traffic enforcement for safer roads

As urban centers expand and individual mobility rises, managing traffic conditions has become an increasingly complex challenge. Annually, a staggering 1.35 million people globally lose their lives in traffic-related accidents, and this number is projected to climb even higher.

With growing traffic and heightened demands for road safety, the pursuit of innovative safety solutions becomes imperative, as it not only saves lives but also carries significant economic implications for governments. According to the World Health Organization, traffic accidents cost most countries approximately 3% of their gross domestic product.

Technology has evolved into an indispensable tool for empowering road safety agencies with enhanced capabilities in traffic enforcement. Technological solutions offer governments and local authorities the means to ensure that drivers are well-prepared through automated knowledge testing and advanced driving assessments. These advancements facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of drivers' understanding of traffic rules and their driving skills before granting them licenses. By ensuring that only qualified drivers occupy the roads, authorities can substantially reduce the risk of accidents stemming from inadequate driving behaviour.

Streamlined Testing Processes

Innovative solutions like on-demand and secure Testing as a Service (TaaS) and Autotest provide government departments with the ability to offer first-time driver applicants the flexibility to take a secure, randomly generated driver knowledge test at convenient and supervised locations, such as high schools or certified third-party driving schools. This approach addresses challenges by automating the Department’s test process, eliminating paper tests in favour of electronic administration and not only saves time and operational costs for examiners and administrators but also reduces errors, enhances customer throughput, and minimizes the potential for fraud.

Enhancing Identification and Prevention

In many countries including India, the driver's license serves not only as the key to accessing the road but also as one of the few documents used for secure identification. Fraud prevention extends to Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) as well, which may require multi-jurisdiction screening to detect duplicate identities.

Leveraging existing facial recognition mechanisms, as permitted by local regulations, can be a solution. Innovations like Multi-state Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Screening can empower government agencies to securely identify potential duplicate identities across jurisdictions.

Advanced Traffic Law Monitoring

Advanced traffic law monitoring systems have emerged as vital tools for enforcing traffic rules and enhancing road safety. These systems utilise cutting-edge technologies such as video surveillance, data mining, and automated number plate recognition (ANPR) to effectively track and monitor traffic violations. By identifying and penalizing offenses like speeding, red-light running, tailgating, and illegal turns, these systems serve as powerful deterrents to reckless driving behavior, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

Integrated Solutions for Efficiency

One of the challenges faced by road safety initiatives is the lack of integration between various applications used for public security, traffic management, and road safety. To address this issue, an integrated all-in-one back-office solution is the need of the hour, where law enforcement, traffic management, and public security can seamlessly communicate and share data. Such a system can reduce the need for human intervention and specialized operators, optimizing violation processing and data analysis, and making enforcement efforts more efficient and effective.

Efficient Traffic Monitoring Systems

As traffic volumes increase and demands for safer roads grow, road safety agencies require high-performing and adaptable traffic monitoring systems suitable for various urban and highway configurations. Traffic Law Enforcement System solutions play a critical role in efficiently gathering and processing data with minimal human intervention. Combining multi-target tracking radar and high-resolution cameras, these systems can analyze and process vehicle trajectory data effectively, even in complex urban settings. Integration of weather monitoring functionalities further enhances road safety for all users.

Cost-Effective and Universal Solutions

Advanced technology offers the advantage of multi-usage data, where the same information can be utilised for different applications, reducing the need for deploying multiple sensors on roads. This integration streamlines data management and ensures a cost-effective approach to traffic enforcement. The software architecture powering these solutions ensures universality, mobility, scalability, high availability, configurability, and robust security.

Leveraging the latest web technologies enables road safety agencies to access real-time data, make informed decisions, and respond promptly to traffic violations and emergencies. Embracing these technological solutions is key to building safer and smarter cities that prioritise the well-being of all road users, fostering equitable mobility.

By employing automated knowledge testing, advanced driving assessments, sophisticated traffic monitoring systems, and integrated back-end software, governments can significantly reduce road accidents, save lives, and mitigate the economic burden caused by traffic-related incidents. 

Alok Tiwari is Senior VP and Business Head, Public Security & Identity, IDEMIA India. Views expressed are those of the author.