Review of new Road Traffic Act to be completed by end of June

By Kimone Witter    

 

The review of the New Road Traffic Act and its regulations is scheduled for completion at the end of this month.

 

A special committee of the National Road Safety Council was established last year to review complaints and suggestions about the new Act shortly after it took effect in February.

 

It followed criticism from several quarters regarding certain provisions.

 

Among the areas of concern for the public was the requirement for operators of public passenger vehicles to have a child seat to transport children under 12 years old.

 

Speaking during his Sectoral Debate presentation in Parliament on Tuesday, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said, on June 3, Cabinet approved the revisions of the child restraint provisions which will brought before Parliament in short order. 

 

The child seat provision was amended so that a child, one to three years old, can travel without restraint or be restrained by an adult. 

 

Vaz said a legal reform consultant was engaged to assist with the review of the new Road Traffic Act with key stakeholders. 

 

"It is important to point out that the rule of law on our roads must be adhered to and there will be no watering down of this legislation. Every effort will be made to bring the remaining provisions act into force," he insisted, adding that the Island Traffic Authority, police and the Transport Authority are being equipped to effectively enforce the provisions.

 

Mr. Vaz urged motorists who have concerns regarding anomalies in the Road Traffic Act to submit them to the Transport Ministry, immediately. 

 

"So I am making an appeal to all those motorists who post things on social media about situations that they have had with tickets that they have gotten that they don't feel is fair and just, to reach out to the ministry, reach out to me, put your position forward and what you are recommending and, of course, we will look at it."