The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) has said that it is working tirelessly to unveil its e-ticketing and central booking scheme for motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The DRTS director, Abdulateef Bello, in an interview in Abuja on Sunday, November 3, 2024, said that the implementation of the technological system would drastically reduce and if possible stop physical interactions between DRTS operatives and motorists on roads.
He said that in actualising that, the service had engaged many service providers in terms of electronic traffic management and penalty systems.
“Some of these companies were engaged on a Proof of Concept basis by first installing their devices at strategic positions in the FCT before demonstrating the capacity of interpreting infractions vis-a-vis penalty administration.
“Next is regulatory approval then to Abuja Investment Company for analysis, from there to Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) before they will come back for formal procurement.
“We have to allow the regulatory process to be followed but all things being equal, some of these things should be operational by the first quarter of next year,” he said.
Bello said that electronic enforcement would actively effect changes by tackling vehicle offences and ensure safety on FCT roads.
“The question of whether the vehicle inspection officers will be fighting with the motoring public will soon be a thing of the past as we are working very hard towards achieving this as it’s been a work in progress.
“The moment you commit an infraction, our men on the road will just issue you a ticket and you get alerts on your phone as long as that vehicle is registered in FCT.
“And then you can still continue to drive to your destination but you will get an alert explaining to you that you have just committed an infraction, and this is fine and then you will be advised to pay,” he said.
According to him, the service had appealed the court judgement which restricted DRTS operatives from impounding defaulting vehicles.
“Our personnel in operation are at the moment undergoing training on the e-ticketing scheme while the few on the road are doing their best to coordinate traffic.
“We still have in operation the Abuja Inspector App which is used by our men to check if motorists are in compliance,” Me Bello added.
Bello emphasised that the service under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, won’t allow any gap in the enforcement of vehicle administration in the FCT.
He advised motorists to obey traffic regulations, register and renew their vehicle papers, upgrade driver’s licence as at when due to be on the safe side of the law.
“This is because the DRTS is working very hard to transform its modus operandi to ensure we provide efficient services that benefit the status of the FCT.
“We are equally working very hard to upgrade to a paperless motor vehicle administration and that will be in next year’s budget,” he said.
