Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-08-15

Amendments to the Motor Traffic Act

- The Government is contemplating expeditious action essential to ensure road safety by minimizing the traffic accidents increasing day by day. As such, the proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to publish the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman in the Government Gazette to amend the relevant sections and Second Schedule to the Motor Traffic Act for the introduction of the timely needed amendments to the same and accordingly, to vest the powers with the Magistrates and police officers for the practical implementation of the proposed 'Drivers Demerit Points System', the declaration of special qualifications to be possessed by a driver who drives vehicles transporting dangerous chemicals, emergency service vehicles and public transport vehicles, regulation of the relevant speed limits for motor vehicles, the introduction of electronic technological methods for the payment of spot fines, the introduction of new vehicle Classes for the registration of special vehicles including the vehicles used by differently abled persons, the revision of fines to be imposed under the general penalty for any offence etc. for which a punishment has not been specified under the Motor Traffic Act and subsequently, to present it in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.