The Commissioner General for the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) intends to introduce a Europe-style new Demerit points licence system in a bid to create more law-abiding disciplined drivers in Sri Lanka.
According to the Daily Mirror, DMT Chief Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe said a Cabinet paper for a pilot project of about Rs.1 billion will be presented within the first two weeks of 2023.
Stating that the new demerit points system will link the DMT, Sri Lanka Police, Courts and Judicial system, Weerasinghe said that even the private insurance agencies will be linked in the future to monitor motorists.
“Under current laws, motorists committing an offence are dealt with by the police under the Motor Traffic Act with the enforcing of a penalty or fine, which enables the wrongdoer to repeat the offence,” he said.
Weerasinghe said as per the proposed demerit points system, motorists will be awarded a demerit depending on the offence they commit up to a maximum of 20 points and the drivers’ licence of those reaching the maximum points will be terminated. The driver will thereafter have to apply for a new licence from the beginning, including sitting for the driving exam and the practical test.
He further said that the police officers will also be provided with a POS machine (point-of-sale) enabling the motorists who committed offences on the run to be issued with spot fines instead of the regular process of paying fines to a post office and returning to the specific police station /area to regain his driver’s license.
Weerasinghe believes this will prevent underhand transactions between police officers and motorists, while it will also save time and efficiency for the motorists.
Meanwhile, the newly proposed demerit points system for driving licences is expected to be introduced from January 2023.
According to reports, the points will be deducted under 32 traffic offences. The demerit points system will be implemented as follows:
- Deduction of 20 points – the driving licence will be suspended for a period of one year.
- Deduction of 10 points – if driven without stopping the vehicle following a road accident.
- Deduction of 08 points – if driven exceeding 150 km/h.
- Deduction of 06 points – if driven recklessly regardless of roadworthiness. (NewsWire)
