Fast Tracking Road Safety Initiative in Africa: An Inescapable Necessity - DCP Mohamed Mpinga National Traffic Commander - Traffic Police Unit
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Fast Tracking Road Safety Initiative in
Africa: An Inescapable Necessity
Strengthening Enforcement of Traffic Laws in
Tanzania
DCP Mohamed Mpinga
National Traffic Commander – Traffic
Police Unit
Tanzania Traffic Police • Mission: “To ensure public safety and security, maintain law and order, prevent and detect crime, apprehend offenders and preserve peace in the United Republic of Tanzania” • Vision: “To be professional, modern and community oriented Police Force that plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable public safety and security for political and social-economic prosperity of the nation”
Staffing and Hierarchy
National Level
National Traffic Commander
2016:
Staff Officer
4,561 officers
Other Traffic Officer, Inspectors and
R&F Officers nationwide
Regional Level
Regional Traffic Officers (RTOs)
Officers Commanding Stations
Inspectors, Rank & File Traffic Officers
District Level
District Traffic Officers
Rank & File Traffic Officers
Road Deaths, 2007 to 2016
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Road Injuries, 2007 to 2016
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
The Last Three Months
Accidents Deaths Injuries
December 2016 705 262 598
January 2017 525 199 459
February 2017 453 198 419
800
700
600
500
Accidents
400
Deaths
300
Injuries
200
100
0
Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17
Causes of Crashes • Majority of crashes caused by human factors: – Overspeeding – Recklessness – Alcohol – Use of mobile phone • Dangerous behaviour of truck drivers, bus drivers, car drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians • So how have we changed behaviour to reduce crashes?
Political Support • Freedom to implement ideas – National Road Safety Council strategy, 2016 – Senior officers feel more motivated – Focus on key risk factors • No more ‘phone calls to boss’ undermining Traffic Police work • More and better equipment – Speed radar cameras – Ticketing machines – Breathalysers • Increased staff: 3,748 in 2015 to 4,561 in 2016
Improved Performance of Officers
• Improved oversight
– Plain clothes officers from HQ on buses to look for
misdemeanors
– Members of the public use mobile phones to record
misdemeanors
– If an officer issues less tickets than her or his
colleagues, he or she will be asked questions
• Improved motivation
– Monthly allowance increased by Tsh 150,000
– Political support, so no longer feel undermined – officers
feel empowered
– No mass complaints or resignations
Enforcement against Speeding
• 700 speed radar cameras provided by Ministry of
Home Affairs in 2014
• Photos of vehicles – no argument
• Improved tactics:
– Plain clothes officers in concealed locations take photo and
Whatsapp it to colleagues further down the road
– Mainly on up-country highways, but also in Dar es SalaamOver speeding Statistics
Recorded Over speeding Offences, nationwide
450000
400000
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
2014 2015 2016Use of Speed Radars
No argument…
13No argument…
14No argument…
15Ticketing Machines • 350 ticketing machines provided by police • Issue electronic tickets, to be paid within 7 days • If driver denies charge, they can raise it with the commanding officer • If ticket is issued and driver appeals against it, and it is found to be incorrectly issued, the issuing officer is required to pay it themselves
Ticketing Statistics
Tickets Issued, nationwide
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
2014 2015 2016Officer Issuing a Ticket
Buses • Drivers caught at 90kmh+ are sent to lock-up overnight, then to court: 277 in first month (Nov 2016) • Transport Licensing Act (SUMATRA) has recently been amended so fines of Tsh 200,000 to 500,000 can be applied • Drivers found to be ahead of schedule are forced to pull over and wait • Traffic Police provided input to design of NIT and VETA driver training courses
Putting an end to this…
Motorcycles
• Recent crackdown. For example, a driver without a
helmet:
– Lock-up overnight
– Court, and a Tsh 30,000 fine
– Confiscation of motorcycle, until provide evidence of
purchase of two helmets
• So far during this crackdown, we have arrested
37,922 offenders
• For red-light jumping, officers take photos and check
against vehicle registration database. However, not
always straightforward!Motorcycle or School Bus?
Motorcycle Violations
Public Support • Public perception of Traffic Police is changing – people are appreciative • Road Safety Ambassadors – 768 members in Whatsapp, 29,000 in Facebook, 5,000 in Telegram • Awareness campaign – report corrupt officers, report dangerous drivers. Over 90 calls per day to our ‘Kazi Moja’ control centre • Support of private sector and civil society: – Puma Energy, Vodacom, Selcom, TBL, SBL, SGS – Transaid, SafeSpeed, Amend, driving schools
Public Support: Road Safety Ambassadors
25Launching 2016 Campaign
“Abiria Paza Sautii”
26Private Sector Support: Puma Energy
Road Safety Drawing Competitions
27Challenges • Increasing number of motor vehicles • Rapid increase in use of motorcycles • Erosion of morals and values: Lack of respect for the law, for authority and for each other • Fines are too low: Do not act as serious deterrent • Corrupt behaviour by drivers, vehicle owners and public servants
The Road Ahead
1. Road safety education for all road users
2. Increasing law enforcement
– Issuing tickets
– Court proceedings
– Suspending licences
3. De-merit / Points system
4. Mandatory vehicle inspections
5. Use of enforcement devices (Speed Laser/Radar)
6. Conducting highway patrols and placing traffic
officers in crash hot spotsThe Road Ahead (cont.)
7. Conducting alcohol tests
8. Continued crackdown on motorcycles
9. Improved use of data: Road Accident Information
System
10.Revision of Road Traffic Act to increase
punishment
11.Vehicle Tracking System in upcountry buses
12.Encouraging the society to participate in reporting
road safety violations such as RSA
13.Close supervision of driving training schools and
drivers’ licensing processes
30Conclusion • All of us have responsibility to observe road laws and regulations to ensure that we reduce the number of road crashes, deaths and injuries, and the negative economic and social consequences • The aim of National Road Safety Council of Tanzania, Tanzania Police Force and other stakeholders is to ensure that we have safer roads for all
“NO ROAD CRASHES – WE WANT TO LIVE SAFELY”
ROAD SAFETY IS OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
ASANTENI KWA KUNISIKILIZA
CONTROL CENTRE:
0682 887 722 0742 820 000 0628 887
722
“HATUTAKI AJALI - TUNATAKA KUISHI SALAMA”
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