Govt. to roll out automated speed ticketing system next week

Mar 31, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- The Government of Guyana is set to launch what it described as a cutting-edge automated speed ticketing system on Monday, April 7, as part of stepped up efforts toward enhancing road safety and reducing speeding incidents nationwide.

This state-of-the-art system, powered by advanced speed cameras and radar speed signs connected to cloud-based infrastructure, will detect and ticket speeding violations, ensuring seamless and fair enforcement of traffic laws, the Department of Public Information said in a statement. This initiative is part of the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) Project, a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA). As part of this project, new radar speed signs and speed cameras have been installed across Guyana to monitor vehicular speeds and traffic patterns.

The automated speed cameras will detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit, and tickets will be generated automatically without manual processing. If a driver’s contact details are registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), they will receive a notification via SMS or email with details of the violation. If their contact details are not registered, a physical ticket will be delivered to their address. The data collected from this system will also help authorities develop effective strategies to reduce speeding and improve road safety. The deployment of these technologies highlights the government’s commitment to using innovation and data-driven solutions to enhance traffic management across the country.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “As our country expands and embraces new infrastructure, we must also adopt advanced technologies that enhance safety and accountability. The automated speed enforcement system, combined with real-time traffic monitoring, represents a critical step forward in ensuring compliance with traffic laws, reducing accidents, and ultimately saving lives.”

This system is fully automated and autonomous, ensuring impartial and consistent enforcement. No manual intervention is possible, making it impossible for offenders to manipulate or bypass fines. All violations must either be paid or contested in court. To enhance convenience, the government has partnered with MMG to enable direct payment of fines via its platform. Additionally, violations will soon be accessible in the GRA’s “Padna” app, allowing drivers to easily check and process payments online.

Speeding has become a major cause of road fatalities in Guyana, and with the rapid expansion of highways and road networks, ensuring compliance with traffic laws has never been more crucial, the DPI statement read. The SRIS Project, through the deployment of radar speed signs and automated enforcement tools, is a testament to the government’s commitment to integrating technology into public safety efforts.

In the coming days, the government will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate drivers on how the system works, what to expect, and how to comply. All motorists are urged to follow speed limits and drive responsibly. The goal of this initiative is not to penalise drivers, but to create a safer, smarter, and more secure road network for all Guyanese.

Meanwhile, the introduction of the system is coming at a time when  the Guyana Police Force continues to struggle manage the roadways here. This newspaper reported recently that there were 19 road deaths between January 1, and March 5, 2025, of these, 13 were occurred within a mere one-week span. In addressing the issue, Traffic Chief and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mahendra Singh had called on all road users to exercise caution. He emphasised that by being more responsible as it relates to exercising safety measures, individuals can prevent contributing to road deaths. During an interview with Kaieteur News, the Traffic Chief cited that any solution to road fatalities ultimately hinges on the responsibility of the driver. He said that if a driver fails to comply with traffic rules, practice the five C’s of driving, or operates their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is unrealistic to expect that they would not contribute to an accident that could result in the loss of life. “It is very important that each road using member of the population be as cautious as possible. Take every step possible to avoid making themselves a target for likelihood of being involved in an accident or contributing to an accident occurrence,” Singh stressed. He urged young motorcyclists to ensure they are licensed and that they have the relevant documents for the motorcycles.

Last year, amendments were made to the Traffic, the Motor Vehicles, and Road Traffic Act to bring about the utilisation of 24-hour surveillance cameras on major roadways into law, aims to help police identify drivers who violate speed limits and refuse to wear seatbelts while driving.

The road intelligent camera system will be fitted onto traffic lights to support the implementation of this new law. The system will be managed by the Guyana Police Force. Championing the passage of the bill, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn underscored that this type of legislation is necessary as Guyana continues to see transformational development.

The minister also pointed out that over the past few years; there have been hundreds of deaths owing to road accidents.  “We have noticed generally…the growth and development of our country. Along with this growth and development, the investment in our roads [and] an increase in vehicles on the road, we still struggle with road traffic accidents and deaths,” he posited. The new laws are expected to play a critical role in acting as a deterrent to speeding and the violation of other traffic laws.

 

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