‘SHOCKING STATISTICS CALL FOR STIFF TRAFFIC FINES’

MBABANE – The proposed increase in road traffic fines is meant to address human behaviour on the road.   

This was one of the reasons that was forwarded by officers from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport during an information sharing workshop that was held at the Royal Swazi with Members of Parliament (MPs).

The MPs were informed that from 2013 to March 2017, a total of 820 fatalities were reported and as a result the fines were just one of the measures to counter the increase in fatalities.
The human behaviour related accidents according to the ministry, include error in judgement and negligence which was recorded as the highest cause of traffic accidents.

Another major cause of road traffic accidents, which was mentioned to the legislators, was inattentiveness.

The media was barred by the ministry from covering the workshop, but the presentation which was given to the legislators was leaked by some of them, who felt that there was no need for secrecy as these were regulations that would affect almost the entire populace of the country.  The MPs were informed that the increased fines would address human behaviour in that the cost would be borne by the driver and would directly impact on their behaviour after payment. 

The proposed fines are also meant to enhance the roadworthiness of vehicles, because the cost would be borne by the vehicle owner.
Some of the proposed fines include E500 for a driver who fails to carry their licence, while non-compliance with a road traffic sign could also attract a E500 fine should the regulations be implemented. 

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