THE past week seemed quite an eventful one for motorists in both the public and private sectors.

Among the developments was the House of Representatives’ approval of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, which will facilitate the accurate implementation of the long-awaited Road Traffic Regulations.

Minister of Transport and Mining Audley Shaw, who piloted the Bill through the House, pointed out that there was a need to pass the Amendment Act prior to introducing the new regulations, as it is necessary to facilitate accurate implementation of the Road Traffic Regulations.

He recalled that the new Road Traffic Act was given the governor general’s assent as far back as December 2018, and anticipation was high for its passage in 2019, but it ended being delayed year after year as different obstacles arose, despite the constant calls from the public and traffic-related bodies for the need to impose new regulations to reduce dangerous driving on the road and the increasing number of casualties resulting from it.

“Consequent on the passage into law, the technical team in the ministry, whilst carrying out further review of the road traffic regulations, identified the areas needing amendment,” Shaw said.

He also noted that the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill makes amendments to nine sections and one schedule. It provides for the expansion of the definition of ‘motorcycle’ to include any other vehicle so constructed to be steered by handlebars, with the driver sitting astride the vehicle and with an unladen weight not exceeding 400 kilogrammes.

The Bill also facilitates other minor amendments to substitute words with more accurate ones or replacing words with the correct reference. The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act was passed without further amendments and will be sent to the Senate for its approval.

Incidentally, the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022, contains 299 regulations, grouped into 13 parts, with each part highlighting particular aspects of road traffic. In addition, various elements of the regulations are expounded on in 13 schedules, providing details for implementation.

Some changes are made to the requirements to be met for the issuing of licences, consistent with the new classifications, such as the theory and practical tests needed to satisfy the authority of the competence of the applicant to safely operate a vehicle. Specific requirements for Class C (commercial) driver’s licences are described, as well as the steps to be taken by the holder of a foreign driver’s licence.

The treatment of an application for a person who is hearing impaired, including how the test should be administered and the requisite notation on the driver’s licence if granted are set out in this part. It also addresses what should happen if a holder of a driver’s licence becomes afflicted with a disease or disability, that is likely to cause the driving by him of a motor vehicle, such as he is licensed to drive, to be a source of danger to the public, as well as the procedure that should be followed if his condition has changed for the better.