The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE government is in discussions with Trinidad to implement a road traffic portal that connects a driver’s license and vehicle registration with outstanding warrants and tickets - prohibiting them from renewing until issues are resolved.

Minister of Transport and Housing Jobeth Coleby-Davis announced the move while speaking at the International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress yesterday, saying the portal can increase revenue and reduce the “pressure” on the judicial system having to track down individuals with outstanding warrants and traffic tickets.

She said: “We are presently in discussion with Trinidad. They have a portal that we were able to view that we really like. And it helped with increasing revenue for the country, but also managing how people interact and used the roads because the portal actually connects your licence and your registration to your warrants, your tickets, and it alleviates the pressure off the magistrate and the court.

“So what it does is when you go to get re-licence, or renew your driver’s licence, anything related to road traffic, the system is connected to the police. And so if your name has a warrant out, or if you have a traffic ticket that has not been paid, you will not be allowed to get your licence renewed until you have cleared that. And so we are in discussions.”

Ms Coleby-Davis said insurance companies would also be able to access the portal to ensure individuals do not cancel vehicle insurance plans once they have obtained registration. She said using technology to strengthen the ease of communication between these agencies will reduce a lot of issues they face.

She said: “We want to have those systems speak to each other, as well as the insurance companies because what we’ve noticed in the past at road traffic... there’s been a lot of persons getting the insurance to get licenced and registered, and then cancelling it after they have gotten their licence and registration until the next year.

“And so we need to have our systems speaking to one another so that we can alleviate those issues. We’ve done a great deal of building a strong relationship with the traffic division in the police force, and also with insurance companies. And so I think just stronger collaboration, through innovation and technology will reduce a lot of the issues that we found to be happening in the past, so there is a great benefit to technology. And having those systems speak to one another and collaboration.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Works Alfred Sears said his ministry is using artificial intelligence to collect data from traffic lights and to program street lights. He said utilising this technology allows law enforcement to obtain footage upon request and allows engineers to adjust street lights quickly.

He said: “We have already installed a road traffic light system. At each of the intersections, we have a camera, and with the artificial intelligence, we’re able to monitor. For example, if there was an accident within the range of the camera, we currently share that information with the police. And we are engaged in discussion to have greater collaboration with road traffic with the police and other stakeholders.

“We’ve introduced a new road traffic system using artificial intelligence that enable the engineers in the ministry to monitor the street lights to be able to manage, given the flow of traffic, the sequencing in the lighting system and also to have real-time observation so that there can be an immediate response when the occasion demands.”