Introduction of a de-merit system for driving licences depending on the traffic offences committed, a ban on transporting children in the front seats and making it compulsory to wear seat belts are among new traffic regulations to be introduced shortly.
A senior police officer said the new laws were to be introduced in the wake of the increasing number of road accidents,
Under the de-merit system each licence would have 48 points and depending on the type of accident or the offence committed the points would be reduced. A fatal accident would lead to a reduction of eight points while a serious accident would have two points reduced, he said.
The new laws would also increase the fines for traffic offences.
Welcoming the decision to introduce tough laws, National Road Safety Council Chairman Manoda Wijeratne said the rate of fatal accidents had risen to a shocking six a day.
So far this year, 1,102 people have been killed in road accidents while the last year’s toll was 2,515.
During the past six months, there have also been 3,016 serious accidents while last year recorded 5,529 such accidents. |
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