Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
Legislation to introduce a driver demerit points system that will lead to the cancellation of licences for motorists who continually violate traffic rules is in the pipeline, Parliament heard yesterday.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said investigations were underway to develop a legal framework that will punish habitual offenders.
Many countries and regions worldwide use a driver demerit or penalty point system to penalise traffic violations.
For a comprehensive overview of jurisdictions that use this approach, Australia Operates a state-based system where drivers start with zero points and accumulate demerits for offences, leading to suspension.
“It is true that as the Ministry of Transport, we are conducting investigations into the law to come up with measures to address the issue of demerits for drivers so that in the end, should you reach a certain number of points, your licence will become null and void,” Minister Mhona said during the Question and Answer session.
He said the proposal was necessitated by the continued loss of lives on the country’s roads.
“It is quite sad that we still have drivers who are causing a lot of accidents, but they continue to drive,” the Minister said.
Minister Mhona told legislators that courts already have the power to cancel licences in serious cases.
“At the moment, our courts can cancel your licence if they see that you are a reckless driver and you could have caused the death of people on the road,” he said.
However, he noted that a structured demerit system would provide a more consistent mechanism for dealing with repeat offenders before they cause fatal accidents.
The minister said the new law would be presented to the House after stakeholder consultations, in line with President Mnangagwa’s call for stronger road safety legislation.
“It is a law that we want to put in place, and we will be coming back to this august House to come up with this particular act,” Minister Mhona said.
“As we have been urged by His Excellency the President, that is to ensure that all those that are involved in the transport sector should put their hands together so that we can come up with stronger legislation that will curb the carnage that is occurring on the road.”
He said the ministry would also conduct public hearings to get input before the Bill is tabled.
