As Lagosians return to their daily commute, a new wave of speed-enforcement cameras, which include those on the Third Mainland Bridge, has brought road safety technology into the spotlight.
This has sparked fresh debate about enforcement, fines, and how the system works.
The Lagos State Government’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) rolled out in collaboration with Huawei Technologies, which now includes
checkpoint sites for speed detection and e-police sites for traffic violations in key locations across the metropolis.
What cameras have been installed?
Cameras with built-in speed monitoring and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) are now active at noted traffic points, including the Third Mainland Bridge, which has an 80 km/h speed limit, along with other roads such as Alapere, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, and more.
Reports also reveal that at Allen Avenue and Nurudeen Olowopopo Road, the e-police infrastructure detects broader traffic infractions, including red-light running, illegal U-turns, lane indiscipline, and reverse driving.
The federal government also inaugurated a CCTV control centre on the Third Mainland Bridge, aimed at real-time monitoring of speed and safety
conditions. This system allows officials to view live footage and enforce limits continuously.
How do the cameras detect speed and plate number?
The cameras are part of modern traffic enforcement technology that combines multiple hardware and software systems.
Most fixed speed cameras use radar, LIDAR (laser light measurement), or sensor loops to measure how fast vehicles are moving as they pass a calibrated point.
When a vehicle exceeds the posted limit, the system triggers an image or video capture.
Once a vehicle triggers a violation, high-resolution cameras capture the registration plate, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition software then
analyses the image using optical character recognition (OCR) and matches it to registered vehicle data.
Together, these technologies compile essential evidence such as speed, date or time, location, and the vehicle’s plate for enforcement and processing.
What happens after data is captured?
Once the system captures a violation then image and metadata, which include speed, time, and location, are recorded.
ANPR identifies the vehicle and links it to the owner. A review is done at a central enforcement processing unit, and an SMS alert is sent with details and payment instructions.
WHO MONITORS THE SYSTEMS?
The Vehicle Inspection Service, under the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, has the duty to oversee the digital traffic enforcement regime.
Violations captured through ITS are reviewed at a central processing centre where trained personnel confirm them before notices are issued.
In the case of the Third Mainland Bridge CCTV, federal officials have acknowledged that the data feeds into a control centre staffed for
real-time monitoring.
How are fines issued?
Lagos authorities stated that the system will send SMS notifications directly to the registered owner of the vehicle detailing the infraction
and the prescribed penalty, rather than on-the-spot stops by officers.
The current fines under the ITS enforcement regime are reported as N50,000 for speed limit violations, N20,000 for running red lights or similar traffic offenses, according to thegovernor.ng
Officials maintain that the policy is about road safety and accident reduction, not revenue generation.
HOW LONG IS THE DATA STORED?
While officials have not publicly outlined specific data retention periods for Lagos’ ITS cameras, systems like ANPR typically store images and violation details for a sufficient time to allow for dispute resolution and legal compliance.
According to Wikipedia, this can range from several months to a year or longer, depending on privacy laws and enforcement policies.
SOURCES: BUSINESSDAY
