The directive is already causing a lot of confusion in the sector.
Apart from the questions raised above, there are the issues of installation and maintenance. Plus standardization and protocols for the hardware and software, not to mention data privacy.
One company, 'Roadwise Solutions' has a camera and 'telematics' solution in place and with several hundred clients, mostly long distance buses and trucks and schools. they told me the biggest question they are getting is; will their clients have to buy a new system or does their qualify? Before their innovation and creation of their own system from ground up ( including soldering hardware locally) there were no real technical standards set out. They are waiting to see whats rolled out. No one has spoken to them, or to any of the other operators, body builders or suppliers that they work with.
The have data on installation, utilization, effectiveness, costs, accident rates and more going back 6 years. They have been working with companies to monitor driving behavior, speed, location as well as environment around the bus/truck through the cameras, which are not just dash cams but also cameras focusing on the drive and around the vehicle for environment data in case of an accident. This is accompanied by a blackbox that collects various other data points before transmission wirelessly.
Video feeds have to be monitored real time or viewed periodically, or at least called up on a system if a check is triggered for some reason. Imagine doing this for thousands of PSV.
Then what about access control, desired anonymity and data security? What about equipment and software? who owns and runs it and pays for costs?
I have a hard time believing that this can be done especially by the seedier more rundown parts of our matatu industry like the Lunga Lunga and KIbera matatus.
there is also installation. When i checked, it took almost 4 hours to wire one vehicle up properly before testing the system. This is more technical that just installing the speed governor/blackbox/data recorder. Do we have sufficient talent to undertake this?
I think the Minister may already have a system in mind, but needs to clarify further just what the solution is and will fully entail.
Finally, is more technology the answer? what about enforcement? and values? and governance and corruption and factor like counterfeit vehicle parts and products like brake pads and poor maintenance and cutting corners, and vehicle age and road conditions universally across the region and a jua kali approach to vehicle servicing?
what role does that play in road carnage?