The 'Safe Kerala' project to reduce traffic violations by using modern technology and thereby save precious human lives is starting on the 20th of this month. In a state where road accident deaths are increasing every year, strict traffic control systems are essential. Whereas the assumption that traffic violations can be reduced by levying huge penalties is completely wrong. This may help raise revenue, but if accidents are to be reduced, all road users must be equally willing to obey traffic laws.

726 AI cameras have been installed across the state as part of the 'Safe Kerala' project. These cameras are developed based on artificial intelligence and have a system to detect any kind of traffic violation on the road and report the information to the control rooms immediately. Camera surveillance will help in stopping the method of police blocking motorists on the road to charge them fines for not wearing helmets and seatbelts.

All types of vehicle drivers will henceforth have to be extremely careful while driving as any violation will be caught on camera. The new system will also free motorists from the excessive harshness that they have to face from the police in the name of inspection.

With the advent of the system of receiving information about violations on phone, the current method of stopping motorists and bikers on the road for collecting the penalty amount can be dropped completely. All roads already have camera surveillance, but apart from camera installation, there has been little attention paid to their protection. Many of the cameras installed are non-functional. As the maintenance and upkeep of the newly installed 726 cameras have been entrusted to Keltron which installed them, the cameras can be expected to function flawlessly. AI cameras have been installed in places where there are no surveillance cameras by the police. There is also a system to transfer the information collected to the Excise and Motor Vehicle Department as required apart from the police.

In Kerala, where about one and a quarter crore vehicles are registered, the main reason for the increase in accidents is the lack of adequate roads. The arrogance of the vehicle operators and their complete disregard for traffic rules creates constant bloodbaths on the roads. The aim of this step should not be to fill the treasury with money from traffic violation penalties. People can only be expected to exercise self-restraint, from the knowledge that careless and illegal driving can lead to heavy fines. The focus should be on encouraging motorists to obey road rules.