Safety and Security MMC John Best yesterday presented possible solutions to the long queues at traffic departments in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
He attributed the current conditions to the conversion to a newer system for capturing information and registrations. The additional machines had slowed down the system, he said.
“While a normal transaction would initially take five minutes, it can now take up to 20 minutes to register,” said Best.
He pointed out that the municipality was looking at opening a B-class Traffic and Licensing Centre which would handle all services besides the processing of motorcycle licences as well as two additional points where only drivers’ licence renewals would be done.
Best also said that they were currently investigating the possible implementation of an online booking system.
“This will eliminate situations where more people than the centre can accommodate or service pitch up at the Traffic and Drivers’ Licensing Centres,” he added. “Nobody else besides those who have booked will then be assisted.”
Best stated that the municipality would continue to engage with the national Department of Transport, Telkom and their IT department to reduce congestion at traffic departments and improve the new systems.
