Parliament has accepted for consideration two bills seeking to double fines for traffic violations and make it mandatory to wear helmets.
Amendments to the land vehicles law submitted by MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik to raise fines was accepted with 46 votes in favour at yesterday’s sitting and sent to the economic affairs committee for review.
The independent MP proposed imposing a fine of MVR1,000 for speeding in addition to impounding the vehicle for 30 days, and suspending the driver’s license for 90 days.
The bill also proposed a MVR1,500 fine for a second speeding offence, MVR2,000 for a third offence, and MVR1,000 for illegal parking.
Moosa also proposed raising fines for failing to pay annual fees and driving a motorcycle with expired registration.
The bill also states that it will be illegal for children under 10 to ride bicycles on the road.
Progressive Party of Maldives MP Riyaz Rasheed meanwhile proposed making it mandatory to wear helmets while riding motorcycles. Riyaz’s amendments were accepted with 47 votes in favour and also sent to the economic affairs committee for review.
The legislation was submitted in the wake of several fatal accidents in Addu City.
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It is about time something is being done!
The amount of various vehicles in Male especially is insane. If you are about to cross the street as a pedestrian, you have to star planning your crossing early by finding an opening between all the parked motorbikes next to the sidewalks. Pedestrian crossings are not respected, so even there motorbikes is found parked and blocking.
To my humble opinion, the police are making SOME efforts, but it could be done so much more by consequently fine (or impound) vehicles parked illegally blocking pedestrians or other traffic.
Speeding - well, it does not take much speed to injure or kill people either walking or on another motorbike - and daily i see reckless speeding by motorbikes.
It is horrible to think what would happen if a child or anyone comes in their way - instant severe injuries or death beyond doubt and for sure.
So we can only hope more efforts will be started to regulate traffic and traffic offences, not to mention a regulation of how many vehicles should be allowed per household.
If it is for each citizen to have a bike or a car....... Goodbye mobility, goodbye safety and good bye any environment friendly policies.
As it is today - it is at your own risk you walk among all the vehicles in Male - no discipline, no respect, no safety.
Helmets will only dare the reckless to feel even bolder and more reckless.
It is actually the pedestrians who should wear helmets and possibly body armor.