The Parliament has approved the amended Bill increasing the fine imposed for 7 types of traffic offences to Rs 25,000.Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill was taken up for debate during yesterday’s parliamentary session.
The relevant Bill was presented to the Parliament by State Minister Gayantha Karunatilake yesterday (07).Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Ashoka Abeysinghe commencing the debate on the Bill, stated that increasing the fines expect to minimize the traffic violations..Opening the debate on the second reading of the Motor Traffic Amendment Bill, Abeysinghe said drivers who exceed a speed limit by a 20%, will be imposed a fine between Rs.3000 to Rs. 5000. “The drivers who exceed a speed limit by 20% to 30% will be fined between Rs.5000 to 10,000. When speed limit would be exceeded by 30%-50%, the fine shall be between Rs.10,000 to 15,000. When a driver exceeds the speed limit by 50%, they will be fined Rs. 25,000.” he said.
He said the government will impose heavy fines on drivers who violate road rules, not because it wants to earn revenue from it. “Some people allege that we increase fines to gain revenue for the government. But that is not the case.We strengthen rules to lessen accidents.” he observed. He said 3,154 persons have died of road accidents in 2017 while 3,113 have died of the same in 2018.
“There are 400,000 motorcycles registered in the country.They fall victim to these road accidents the most. Even the World Health Organization has raised concerns over this matter.The government will introduce a new programme to discipline drivers to lessen road accidents.” Abeysinghe added. He said the government has taken a decision to provide a concessionary loan with an interest rate of 3.5%, for private bus owners to purchase luxury buses.
