
Road safety in Cameroon: the gendarmerie adopts drones 🛩️
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To combat road accidents, Cameroon’s National Gendarmerie is taking an innovative approach by integrating drones into its surveillance system. This technology has already been tested and approved by security forces.
A technology for safety 🛩️
As part of the “Special End-of-Year Holidays” operation, drones were deployed on the Yaoundé-Boumnyebel route, a road known for heavy traffic and numerous infractions. During this period, these technological tools identified 41 cases of improper overtaking and crossing of continuous lines—behaviors often responsible for serious accidents—thanks to video footage captured by the drones.
Before their official introduction, tests were conducted in October 2024 on the Yaoundé-Bafia road. These trials, carried out by the team from the National Gendarmerie’s Transmission Services, demonstrated the effectiveness of drones. They can detect infractions and provide visual evidence to law enforcement officers. Encouraged by these results, the Gendarmerie decided to expand their use to other strategic roadways.
Direct impact on drivers 🚙
The integration of drones into road safety systems has a noticeable deterrent effect on drivers. Motorists, aware of aerial surveillance, adopt more cautious behavior. According to the National Gendarmerie’s communication unit, this awareness created by technology is crucial for fostering a culture of compliance with road safety rules.
The drones used by the National Gendarmerie are equipped with high-definition cameras capable of capturing detailed images and videos. These recordings not only detect violations such as dangerous overtaking but also monitor real-time traffic conditions. In emergencies, these devices facilitate rapid response by law enforcement, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of surveillance operations.
Challenges to overcome 🤔
While the introduction of drones has been welcomed, their use presents certain challenges. Training operators, maintaining equipment, and extending this technology across the entire country require significant resources. Additionally, the Gendarmerie must ensure that the data collected is used responsibly and respects the rights of road users.
In its awareness campaign, the National Gendarmerie reminds drivers that road safety is a shared responsibility. Its message is clear: “Improper overtaking endangers lives. Drive safely.” This technological initiative, though recent, is gradually taking root to reduce accidents on Cameroon’s roads.
Towards an expansion of aerial surveillance ? 🌍
In the future, the Gendarmerie plans to expand the use of drones to other regions of the country. This prospect could sustainably transform road safety, making roads less deadly and reinforcing respect for traffic laws. However, for this initiative to succeed, collaboration between authorities, road users, and technology partners will be essential.
What about you ?
What do you think about using drones to monitor roads? Is it a sustainable or temporary solution? Share your thoughts in the comments ☺️
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