Motor Traffic Act to be amended to give more teeth for driver penalty points system
View(s):The government will soon amend the Motor Traffic Act to punish errant drivers under the penalty points system which is now being implemented countrywide, Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), S.H. Harishchandra told Business Times
The department has already sought cabinet approval to amend the law and introduce legislation relating to the penalty points system that will enable the department to take necessary action against errant drivers including the suspension or cancellation of driving licences in addition to punishment for violating motor traffic laws, he disclosed.
A computerised data base of errant drivers will be maintained by Traffic Courts in association with the Motor Traffic Department and it will help to suspend or cancel their driving licences considering the number of traffic offences committed by them after the new legislation is passed in parliament, he revealed.
The number of traffic offences has come down considerably with the implementation of the penalty points system, he said, adding that motorists are now very careful when driving on the roads.
Under the points system 12 points are reduced for driving under the influence of liquor and 12 for fatal accidents. A driver is entitled to only 24 points.
The Driver Improvement Points system was introduced in terms of the Motor Traffic Act and it is aimed at bringing about better discipline among drivers.
Many drivers have lost their points as a result of driving under the influence of liquor and around 3000 to 4000 get caught monthly for committing this offence, he said, adding that those motorists have lost 12 points each under the points system.
“If a driver is responsible for a fatal accident, his licence will be cancelled after the necessary legislation is passed in parliament.” he said.