Demerit Point For Drivers: Govt agencies dragging foot on enforcement
When the Road Transport Act-2018 was enacted over four years ago incorporating a system of demerit points on driving licenses for traffic violation, the authorities said the system would go a long way in ensuring road safety.
The law came into force in November 2019, but the authorities could not implement the system because the rules were not there until December 27 last year.
Even though the rules are here, the system still exists on papers only.
The demerit points system, as mentioned in the act, means there will be 12 points for each driver, and a traffic rules violation will result in deduction of one or two points. A licence will be revoked if a driver loses all the points.
Contacted, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder said the software needed for the implementation will be ready within seven to 10 days and the system will be operational then.
Besides, a mobile app will be developed for the task, he said. "Once the app is available, implementation will be easier. But it will take some more time."
But some BRTA and police officers express doubts as to whether such a system can be implemented with success in a country where over five lakh vehicles operate without fitness certificates, thousands of drivers do not have licences, and cities do not have parking areas.
WHAT WILL BE THE SYSTEM?
According to section 11 of the Road Transport Act-2018, all sorts of drivers' licences, except the ones for learners, will be assigned 12 points.
The authorities issued a gazette on December 27 last year putting the rules of the act in effect. The rules mentioned 13 offences.
A driver may lose two points for overloading and intentionally obstructing movement of other vehicles and one point each for 11 other offences including illegal parking, speeding, and violation of traffic signals, the rules said.
A mobile court or a BRTA official not below the rank of motor vehicle inspector or police officer not below the rank of sergeant can deduct the points. The officer must have a photo or video footage of the offence and inform the driver and the authority immediately after deducting a point.
A driver can request a review of the decision within a month by paying a fee and the authorities will make a decision within a month.
If a driver does not violate any rules for six months, the authority can give them back two points following an appeal. The drivers will get two more points if they do not violate any rules for another six months in a row.
But drivers will not be allowed to appeal for points for two years after losing eight points.
The BRTA has already held meetings about the matter and directed its software vendor to prepare a system so that it can be implemented, said a top official.
But it will be very difficult to implement the system because of the large number of drivers and vehicles without valid documents, said the official, requesting anonymity.
Moreover, the transport associations may become an impediment as they often obstruct government initiatives that go against their vested interests, he added.
Sources at the road transport and bridges ministry said the authority may consider these matters and pilot the system before starting full implementation.
Similar systems of demerit points are used in different countries, officials said.
Contacted, Monibur Rahman, additional commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said the police are reviewing the system.
"We are hopeful about starting the system, but it may take some time," he said.
Shahed Al Masud, a deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Traffic division, told The Daily Star that implementation of a new system always poses some challenges.
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