Motor Traffic Amendment

• Driver demerit points introduced
• Registration of motor homes and quadricycles allowed
• Obtaining a driving license will also include mental alertness tests
• New procedures to transport chemicals, hazardous waste, petroleum products, gas and explosives

Broadening the scope of outdated motor traffic laws and regulations which are not capable of regulating modern-day road rules, the Government moved the second reading of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill yesterday in Parliament. 

Outlining the necessities to amend the Motor Traffic Act introduced in 1951, which had 27 amendments in 1981 and one amendment in 2009 but was not updated over the years to meet technological enhancements and overcome the issues faced by the authorities, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said: “Registering new motor vehicles, regulating the issuing of new licenses, regulating new types of vehicles including three-wheelers, making use of international examples and local experience will be the key aspects of the amendment. We have conducted wide discussions with stakeholders before drafting.”

The amendment will bring in a demerit point system for drivers following international steps. “With the accumulation of demerit points the driver will lose the license for a period or may have to obtain a fresh license. The demerit point system will encourage drivers to be responsible and careful,” said Minister de Silva.  

“Motor homes and quadricycle registration will be allowed. We hope that motor homes will help improve tourism. The quadricycles are with four wheels and they are much safer compared to three-wheelers. Currently quadricycles are used in 16 countries, including Japan, China, Russia and the EU. A quadricycle cannot be turned around as a three-wheeler and has low emissions. Our intention is not to put all three-wheelers out of jobs, but we could convert the system to use quadricycles,” he added. (AH)