Minister Mahomed’s Urgent Road Safety Measures in Response to 43 Fatalities

In a bold declaration aimed at bolstering road safety across the island, Minister Osman Mahomed has announced the training of motorists alongside the reintroduction of the ‘Graduated Licensing Scheme’. This significant announcement, made in Parliament a few weeks ago, heralds the return of the points-based driving licence system to Mauritius, a move that reflects a resolute commitment to improving road safety.

The initiative, as articulated by Minister Mahomed, stems from the Prime Minister’s vision, which saw Jean Todt, the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety, visit Mauritius in early April.

During the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, 25 April, Minister Mahomed presented a comprehensive proposal aimed at updating the groundwork laid for the reinstatement of the points system.

“We aspire to deliver an enhanced version of this system, with a thorough revision of all legal provisions,” he stated emphatically.

A pivotal aspect of this overhaul is the digitalisation of the process.

Minister Mahomed elaborated that the new system will leverage technology to its fullest extent:

“This time, we will utilise digital tools as much as possible,” he asserted.

This modernisation is designed to alleviate the burden on motorists, who will no longer be required to carry a physical document, the ‘counterpart’, as was mandated under the original points system introduced in 2013.

According to the deliberations of the Council of Ministers, a sub-committee will be dedicated to focusing specifically on this technological aspect.

Additionally, a review of the points calculation—a fundamental element underpinning the entire system—is also on the agenda, as emphasised by the Minister.

A Three-Step Process for Implementation

Minister Mahomed has assured that progress will be swift in reintroducing the points system, although no specific timeline has been established.

He outlined the three essential steps required before the system can be operational:

Securing the approval of the Council of Ministers

Presenting a policy paper to facilitate the preparation of instructions for the State Law Office (SLO)

Drafting the new legislation, which will subsequently be submitted to Parliament for a vote.

This process suggests that amendments to the Road Traffic Act may not come into effect for several weeks, if not months.

A More Deterrent System

Reflecting on the previous points system, Minister Mahomed contended that it was far more effective as a deterrent compared to the points accumulation system that replaced it.

He argued that the latter has compromised road safety in the nation, leading to an alarming increase in both road accidents and traffic violations.

“We must not only consider the number of fatalities, which is already tragic, but also take into account the countless victims of road accidents who are left permanently disabled,” he stressed, underscoring the necessity of acknowledging not just fatal incidents but also those resulting in severe injuries, sometimes necessitating amputations.

The Minister adopts a holistic perspective on the issue, encompassing vehicle damage, infrastructure degradation, and traffic congestion.

“We must view the situation comprehensively. The cumulative points system introduced by the previous government lacked sufficient deterrent elements, resulting in a surge in road accidents,” he remarked.

He further noted that the state incurs billions of rupees annually in road infrastructure repairs due to accidents.

As of 25 April, the day the points system was presented to the Council of Ministers, the grim tally of road fatalities for the year stood at 43, with three additional deaths recorded on that very day. The urgency for reform has never been clearer.

Source: Defi Media