A date with DRTSS

Sometimes it takes an encounter to appreciate reforms taking place in some government departments. This entry is dedicated to the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) who had a bitter, yet sweet surprise for my better than walking machine. Given my other experiences with some elements in the Directorate, I am not one who would easily take my hat off to them. But on the evidence of this occasion I give it to them. As I do so, I wonder why Traffic Police, our friends who rely on delegated powers can’t sweetly surprise road users sometimes.

On this particular October afternoon, my wheel barrow was being pushed back to base a person certified to do so when he was waved to park by the roadside by the owners of the road. For removal of any doubt, any minibus or taxi driver will not hesitate to tell you that DRTSS are the owners of the roads and the cards we call licences. I would like to consider this bestowing of ownership a massive compliment. Truth be told, when DRTSS officers are roaming the streets, many unroadworthy assemblages of metal called cars go into hibernation. But I digressed a bit. The outcome of being stopped by DRTSS officers was that an offence was committed by my machine – one head lump was almost falling off its socket and it was projecting its light in the wrong direction, potentially becoming a hazard to oncoming vehicles.

In view of my other experiences on our roads, I wouldn’t be surprised if the driver was told to pay on the spot or to follow them to their office, after all that’s what many drivers are accustomed to. This particular day was different. It was bitter yet sweet. The bitter part was that this traffic offence attracted a monetary fine – making me worse off financially. I was already thinking of wiring what little I had to the driver to settle the vehicle’s crime only to be told that he had already been released – and that was the sweet part. Both the driver and the vehicle were released, of course with a machine-printed invoice to be honoured at any NBS Bank within a specified period. For one accustomed to payment of traffic related fines on the spot, this experience was refreshing. Here was the assurance that whatever I was going to eventually pay would find its way to a government account. There was that gratification that if this money was going to be embezzled, it would be delayed embezzlement and, perchance, it would land in safe hands. When one pays their fine on the spot, it is hard to be certain as to whether that the money finds its way to a government’s cash chest. The stories that regularly make rounds of traffic officers sharing proceeds of their long day at work do not inspire confidence.

I wonder if my little prayer could be answered by the powers that be. Granted, DRTSS and Traffic Police belong to different ministries and, therefore, have different reporting lines. Shouldn’t it be the case that since Traffic Police performs traffic related functions using delegated powers be reformed to play by the rule book being used by DRTSS on fines related to traffic rules violations? When the electronic system was being implemented around mid-2018, the idea was to eventually phase out on spot fines. The impression then was that both DRTSS and Malawi Police Service Traffic Department were on the same page. Why one entity is still stuck with on spot fines is anybody’s guess. As for me, let me reminisce on the date I had with DRTSS. I really enjoyed it and remain hopeful that someday all traffic related fines could follow the electronic ticketing system that allows offenders some two weeks within which to pay their fines.