House Approves New Road Traffic Act

A new Road Traffic Act was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 10.

The Bill was piloted by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy.

The Government took the decision to repeal the existing Road Traffic Act, promulgated in 1938, and replace it with a new Act that is in keeping with international best practices for road safety.

Also, since the old Act was promulgated, there has been phenomenal development in the design of motor vehicles and roads, thus rendering various descriptions and requirement in the Act obsolete.

Opening the debate on the Bill recently, Dr. Guy noted that there was need for a new Road Traffic law that will “ensure that we have something that is modern, that addresses some of the issues that have been plaguing us on the road, and to bring this Act into the 21^st Century.”

The Bill covers areas such as the establishment of the Island Traffic Authority and its functions, the road code, classification of vehicles, revocation of certificate of fitness, application, grant and refusal of learners permit or driver’s licence, and offences relating to the licensing of a driver.

The legislation will be sent to the Senate for its approval.