Watch out: MMDA installing new system to catch violators

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will put to the test next month a new system that can intelligently register drivers’ violations while travelling along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

The locally made technology application developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) seeks to strengthen the implementation of its No-Contact Apprehension Policy without human intervention.

Dubbed as CATCH ALL, or Contactless Apprehension of Traffic Violators on 24-hours Basis, All Vehicle Detection System, the program is capable of detecting a vehicle’s traffic violation such as number coding, beating the red light, speeding, etc. via smart camera video capture.

Using this smart program, the MMDA aims to keep track of traffic violators through the closed-circuit television cameras.

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said the system will be pilot tested next month, covering the whole stretch of 23.8 kilometer-EDSA.

“EDSA is the busiest major thoroughfare in Metro Manila so we want to increase the mobility there with the help of the CATCH-ALL technology,” Lim said.

The system will record the vehicle’s detection and tracking, profiling, plate localization and plate character recognition for more detailed traffic violation identification.

Under the agreement, the agency and the DOST will put up outdoor LED screen 24-hour notification system that will display traffic violators’ information (which includes car profile, plate number, violation, date and time of violation) for a more transparent apprehension.

“With the CATCH-ALL technology, we can easily identify erring motorists in real time without obstruction of traffic flow but still ensure that the violators are caught and penalized,” Lim noted.

At present, the MMDA is enforcing the no-contact apprehension policy through a network of cameras installed on major thoroughfares.

The policy makes use of the agency’s 350 CCTV cameras that take footage of violations committed by the driver of the vehicle while it is in motion.

Covered by the scheme are major thoroughfares including EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Marcos Highway, Roxas Boulevard, C-5 Road, and Quezon Avenue.