Emergency service vehicles will not be penalised under the National Transport and Safety Authority’s new instant fines system, allowing ambulances, police, and military vehicles to exceed speed limits when responding to emergencies.
Other motorists, including motorcycles, three-wheelers, and standard cars, will still be liable to automatic penalties captured by the system.
Speaking on March 10, NTSA Director General Nahashon Kondiwa explained that the automated cameras can read both front and rear number plates, ensuring that no regular motorist is overlooked.
“The cameras have the capabilities to read both the front plate and the back plate, and therefore no motorists are exempted. We can read motorcycles, vehicles and even three-wheelers,” Kondiwa said.
He also reassured drivers that anyone who believes they were wrongly fined can contest the penalty through an established appeal process.
“Every case like this must have an appeal process. We are not angels, as NTSA, and sometimes somebody can dispute,” Kondiwa said.
Evidence of violations, including images and short GIF clips showing the vehicle at the time of the offence, will support motorists in presenting their case to the courts.
Despite the new automated system, Kondiwa noted that some offences cannot be captured by cameras.
Enforcement officers, including those from the National Police Service (NPS), will continue to patrol the roads and manually record offences when necessary.
“There are offences for which you cannot use the camera, so the enforcement officers, including the NPS, will still be on the road, and they capture these offences manually,” he added.
On speed zones, Kondiwa said all sections of roads with cameras will be clearly marked, and motorists will receive advance notice when entering these areas.
“All the cameras we are putting on, we are making sure that it is accompanied by the right speed sign that is showing very clearly that this section of the road you are supposed to have this kind of speed,” he said.
Speed limits will vary depending on the design of the road and the surrounding land use
