Govt to amend Motor Traffic Act

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Government has decided to amend the Motor Traffic Act to ensure safety on roads.

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that among the changes to be brought in through the amendment was the introduction of a special driving licence for bus drivers.

“Provisions requiring the mental health and the conduct of the applicant will be taken into account in issuing driving licences under the amended Act,” he said. Alahapperuma pointed out that nearly 41 per cent of drivers involved in fatal road accidents were those ruled medically unfit to drive.

“We will observe all these drawbacks in the present system and bring in amendments to address them,” he added.

In terms of the existing law, only the applicants of heavy vehicle driving licences have to pass the fitness test conducted by the National Transport Medical Institute. Applicants for other types of driving licences (for light and dual purpose vehicles) can prove their fitness through private medical certificates.