Road Traffic Offence Information Management System
Chapter One
Objective of Study
As Nigerian road safety agency, FRSC management embraces the use of computers and information technologies in transport infrastructure. As the development and implementation of improved technological systems continue, it is believed that intelligent transport system will provide an increase in capacity, management and productivity of traditional transport infrastructure as well as contribution to achieving of other goals such as improved management in road traffic offence.
This study seeks to design a system that can achieve the following objectives:
- Centralized road traffic offence information databanks where road traffic offence information can be easily accessed by all authorized
- Reduce error in offenders’ identification, as lots offenders escape offence due to wrong identification (pictorial identification) during and after documentation which makes prosecution of offenders’
- Displays a pictorial sketch or diagram of an offence committed as clear evidence to offenders’ crime. This can also be tendered in court during prosecution.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
In this chapter, the concepts and technologies used in the work and how they are used are explained. Also in this chapter, the works of other researchers who have worked on related works were discussed under review of related literature, to aid the researcher in solving the identified problems.
Theoretical Background
The technologies used in this application are web technologies: HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript and relational database technology (mySQL).
- The main building technology of the application, Road Traffic Offence Information Management System is the HTML, The HTML is the markup language used to describe and define the content of webpage. The HTML is used to tell the browser what to display on the page, like appearance of text such as bold or italics text and also used to specify images. The main HTML features used were form and Cascading Style Sheet. The form was used to collect LOGIN data-username and password-from a user and a submit button (Login) to send the collected data to a web document to act on the data. HTML code used to create form :
CHAPTER THREE
SYSTEMS ANALYSES AND DESIGN
Introduction
System development can generally be thought of as having two major components: system analysis and system design. System design is the process of planning a new business system or one to replace an existing system. Before this can be done, we must thoroughly understand the old system and determine how computer and software can be used to make the operation effective. System analysis and Design refers to the process of examining business situation with the intent of improving it through better procedures and methods. System analysis and Design relates to shaping organisations, improving performance and achieving objectives for profitability and growth. The emphasis is on system in action, the relationship among subsystem and their contribution to meeting a common goal.
Methodology
This study relied on information obtained from secondary sources especially online materials, Newspapers and documents of relevant agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps. From these documents required information was obtained on the performance, road traffic crashes records, operational activities and strategies of the corps, enforceable laws and regulation including safety offence and their penalties and its data management system.
The author also examined reports, academic research papers, articles and newspaper reports on essence of information and communication technology on road safety. The obtained information enables the critical review of current state of FRSC in information and communication technology compliance measures.
Object Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD) methodology was used during the software development. Object Oriented Analysis and Design methodology is a software engineering approach that modules a system as a group of interacting object. OOAD models are pictures that illustrate the system’s objects from various perspectives such as structures and behaviours. Two stages are involved in the approach; Object Oriented Analysis and Object Oriented Design. Unified Modelling Language (UML) notation is the design tool used for modelling in this research.UML used in the research includes: Use Case diagrams, Sequence diagrams and Class diagrams.
CHAPTER FOUR
SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
Introduction
Implementation of the system is concern with the preparation of resources (hardware and software) that are required for effective functionality of a newly designed system, testing these resources to ensure that they meet the designed objective and eventually change over to the new system.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Summary
The existing approach of decentralised road traffic offence information is not efficient as having single integrated road traffic offence information enhances fast, timely and secured accessibility and sharing of road traffic offence information for the agency’s decision making. Manual means of identifying offender with only information about an offender is not enough, Identifying road traffic offenders with their pictorial images will aid the agency in authentic documentation and avoid prosecuting wrong persons. In the same line, as pragmatic beings who believe what they see, showing offender a display diagram sketch of his crime will convince him .This also will provide forensic evidence that will facilitate prosecutions. The proposed model is anticipated to offer an improved solution in road traffic offence information management in real time despite the geographical locations. If the proposed model will be implemented it is expected to improve transparency and accountability and therefore strengthening road safety.
The system is designed using Object Oriented Analysis and Design and Unified Modelling Language was used to bring the view to real life situation. Top down approach was adopted as the implementation approach for this project research. This involves breaking complex system into subsystems and then into modules for easy study and understanding. The system architecture is basically divided into three basic parts. The first is the front end that shows the user interface designed with PHP, HTML and JavaScript, the back end which hold the database server and different tables, at the middle is the internet Information Service or application server using the Apache server; which provides the connectivity between the front end and the back end. The user interfaces are interactive and provisions are made for security of data stored. The use of the system is relatively simple and the I.T knowledge requirement for its usage is relatively minimal.
The system is reusable, meaning that it can be further expanded or more other features can still be added into the system to strengthen and better the system.
Review of Achievements
Decentralised road traffic offence information is not efficient as having single integrated road traffic offence information enhances fast, timely and secured accessibility and sharing of road traffic offence information for FRSC’s management and decision making. Manual means of identifying offender with only information about an offender is poor. Identifying road traffic offenders with their pictorial images will aid the agency in authentic documentation and avoid prosecuting wrong persons. In the same line, as pragmatic beings who believe what they see, showing offender a display diagram sketch of his crime will convince him .This also will provide forensic evidence that will facilitate prosecutions. The proposed model is anticipated to offer an improved solution in road traffic offence information management in real time despite the geographical locations. If the proposed model will be implemented it is expected to improve transparency and accountability and therefore strengthening road safety. Figure 5.1 depicts prospective users’ assessment (in %) of the proposed model
Contributions to Knowledge
In the study, the author was able to establish that major cause of road accidents being experienced in Nigeria is due to road traffic offence information management failure and inadequate information and communication technology facilities in road safety activities. Improved road traffic offence information management through single integrated road traffic offence information database and credible offenders’ identification measure was proposed and developed. The system model can also display in form of diagram sketch/picture an offenders’ crime, to facilitate prosecution.
Suggestion for Further Work
- The author suggests that a research to develop system that relies on thousands of sensors embedded in asphalt, some attached to street signs and hidden in traffic lights and others posted at major streets and key intersections to capture data on traffic flows and density. The system will be capable of capturing snapshots of road traffic offences and then deliver it, wirelessly to computer servers. Computers then combine this information with FRSC field staff dispatches on road traffic offence, accidents or emergencies and deliver it to users who can access it on their PDA or Mobile phones and the internet. The system can also predict what road traffic condition will be like in several hour
- A research to develop a system that allows documentations of road traffic offence be done via mobile applications. The mobile application system will allow the use of mobile devices to capture and document offence information as well as allowing accessibility through mobile devices.GPS, WiFi, GSM, Google maps will be used as development technologies to create application usable by people responsible for the administration of applications, but also usable by final users. Also to be known as road traffic offence management on the palm, the application will be able to display road traffic offence information that is currently happening on the major roads. It will enable users to find the current location using GPS and displays location on the screen. The location is to be displayed on the map of Google maps package. After presentation of the user’s location on the map, there will be on the map drown different markers, depending on what kind of event is in question. Touching the screen, where the event is, and users can get road traffic information in details, whether there is road traffic accident or road traffic offence. This application will help the user to be promptly informed about working zones, road traffic accidents, road traffic offence, which reduces the risk of downtime, and significantly shortens the time required for the identification and solving of road traffic incidents. Incorporating the above functionalities with Road Traffic Offence Information Management System will reduce to the barest minimum the rate of road traffic offence in Nigeria.
Recommendations
Federal Road Safety Corps as the lead and coordinating agency for road safety management in Nigeria is the key driver of all road safety efforts in Nigeria. This has become unattainable due to its current involvement in managing road safety at operational level, a position it shares with several other agencies like the Nigeria Police Force, the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Works and Transport; Transport Regulatory Authorities, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) also duly empowered to perform similar functions this portends the dangers of role- submergence and conflict which may arise out of competing interests. FRSC should coordinate the activities of these bodies in order to improve road traffic offence information management.
- Information and Communication Technology seminar training and retraining should be giving to staff of the FRSC so as to be abreast with international road safety
- Public enlightenment on dangers of road traffic offence and stipulated penalties should be common jingle in the media. Telecommunication companies should also join the queue of enlightening their network
- Researches on better way to improve road traffic offence information management should be encouraged and supported by
Conclusion
FRSC, plays the role as the leading and coordinating agency for road safety management in Nigeria, Unfortunately this has become unattainable due to its current involvement in managing road safety at operational level; a position it shares with several other agencies also duly empowered to perform similar functions. Though shared road safety responsibility provides the benefits of coverage where cross-functional gaps exist, it also portends danger in role submergence and conflict which may arise out of competing interests. It is disturbing to note that such conflict currently characterize road traffic offence information management in Nigeria. The main challenge of implementing road traffic offence information management in any developing country is to fully embrace improved information and communication technology in road traffic information management, especially as regards to offence management. This will go a long way to reduce incessant accidents in Nigeria.
The research shows that significant reduction of road crashes can be achieved by the prudent management of road traffic offence information through application of adequate ICT infrastructure, increasing access to road safety information. Not just amassing huge data for road safety management, every electronic data, including sensitive road traffic offence information is useless if it is not accessible and proper identification of road traffic offenders made during documentation to ensure reliability and credibility of the process.
The way in which all officials involved would use the technology and mechanisms provided, will determine the system’s effectiveness in enforcing road traffic offence management control. The integrity and dedication of these officials are among important factors in our struggle against road traffic offences. It is trusted that the efforts and investment in Road Traffic Offence Information Management System will result in the much-needed positive benefits toward road traffic offences and accidents reduction in Nigeria.
APPENDIX D
