
By Eric Mhunduru
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi, says they are reviewing the Road Traffic and Transport Act of 1999, which may see future defaulters’ licences being suspended for as long as 10 years.
Nekundi said this at the launch of the new Oshakati Traffic Law Enforcement Unit on Monday.
Nekundi said the revised law will also bring a digitalised central road traffic monitoring system, aimed at cutting bureaucratic delays in the deployment of the law against perpetrators.
“We may suspend your licence for 10 years without a driver licence. We can no longer allow people to die. Very soon all cars are going to have digital number plates. Very soon. We are done with the designs.
“Very soon all your cars must be converted to digital number plates. If you drive past a red traffic light or any violation, the system will pick up automatic and all of you, if you have a car, all your banks will be linked to the traffic systems. If you drive through, the system will automatically deduct money from your bank account,” He said.
Nekundi further explained some of the envisaged changes to the road traffic and transport act.
“Traffic officers are very serious to amend the law. You are going to have the powers to suspend the licences on the spot. There will be no negotiation and we are going to make the law very strict. If you fight a traffic officer, that’s an additional crime.
“We are not going to allow a system where traffic officers and law enforcement officers are insulted, touching even their clothes. So they are going to suspend your licence right away. Until such time, the law, the court, pronounces itself,” he said.
Various consultations held around the country, have revealed that drivers contribute to the accidents and fatalities due to negligence, a situation that Nekundi is tackling head-on with the proposed new traffic law revisions.
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