Road side cameras not meant to milk motorists - RTSA

ROAD safety law enforcement using road side cameras is not meant to milk motorists of their hard earned money but to reduce the carnage on roads caused by excessive speed and reckless driving, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has said.

And the agency has remitted about K49.5 million to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) as part of its tax commitment.

RTSA head of public relations, Frederick Mubanga said that the main objective of the road side cameras was to reduce the carnage on main roads.

Mr Mubanga said that most of the fatal traffic accidents, also endangering the lives of pedestrians were caused by excessive speed and reckless driving. He pointed out that over 1,800 lives were lost and many more injured annually because of driving above specified speed limits.

Mr Mubanga said in a statement that the agency had initiated enforcement on high risk roads with the first phase focusing on Great North Road, Kafue Road, Great East Road, Mumbwa Road and Leopard’s Hill Road.

“We wish to inform the public that the main objective of Road Safety Law Enforcement using road side cameras is to reduce the carnage on our roads caused by excessive speed and reckless driving. Over 1,800 lives are lost and many more injured annually because of driving above specified speed limits. Stop speeding before it stops you. Every single life matters,” he said.

And RTSA chief executive officer, Zindaba Soko said they remained committed to settling all outstanding statutory and other obligations as the agency remitted about K49.5 million to ZRA.

Mr. Soko said the agency was up to date with all outstanding statutory commitments to ZRA and heed to its clarion call of becoming a world class road transport service provider as envisaged in the strategic plan.