AI Cameras Bring Discipline, But Auto-Rickshaws Defy Law
Collected Photo
Evading police, driving on the wrong side of the road, or breaking traffic signals used to be daily occurrences on the streets of the capital. However, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras, that reality is changing.
Drivers are now following the law even when the roads are empty or traffic police are absent. Driven by the fear of being sued, a sense of order is returning to drivers even in the middle of the night.
However, stakeholders believe the full benefits of this technology will not be realized unless authorities control auto-rickshaws and easy-bikes.
Reports indicate that authorities have installed 38 modern AI cameras at 19 critical points in the capital.
Moreoever, 117 cameras - including 80 on the expressway - are monitoring the city 24 hours a day. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Traffic Division stated that they will eventually install at least 700 cameras at 120 intersections in Dhaka, with 200 scheduled for installation this coming August.
Work to install new cameras from Shahbagh to Uttara and the Motijheel area is in full swing.
The Challenge of Unregistered Vehicles
While buses, trucks, private cars, and motorcycles are following the law, auto-rickshaw drivers show a persistent tendency to ignore regulations. Experts note that while other vehicles face prosecution, auto-rickshaw drivers do not share that fear, leading them to break the law whenever possible.
Communication experts argue that the full impact of AI will only be felt if auto-rickshaws are removed from Dhaka’s main roads to restore discipline.
Md Hadiuzzaman of BUET told Agamir Somoy, “Cities worldwide that have reaped the benefits of AI technology have transformed their entire traffic ecosystem. Unless unregistered auto-rickshaws and easy-bikes are removed from Dhaka’s main roads, the full benefits of AI will not be realized.”
Drivers Adapt to the New System
Drivers are also starting to notice a shift in their own habits. Violating rules now leads to legal cases and point deductions from driver’s licenses. At the Banglamotor intersection, this reporter spoke with Md Rafiq, a driver for Shikar Paribahan.
He said, “The signal turned red, and I stopped. This system didn't exist before. People now stop intentionally out of fear of a case. Previously, everyone moved by ignoring the signal; everyone went however they could. Now we are moving with discipline. A necessity to follow rules has been created among drivers. 60 to 80 percent of people are now following the rules.”
A driver for Bikolpo Paribahan added, “The system is changing, so we are also changing.”
Despite the progress, drivers maintain that only bringing registered vehicles under the law will not solve the issue. They warned that if unregistered auto-rickshaws and easy-bikes are not controlled, Dhaka will effectively become paralyzed.
