Mozambique: Immediate imprisonment proposed for drivers in case of fatal accidents – AIM report

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Immediate imprisonment proposed for drivers in case of fatal accidents – AIM report

10:29 CAT | 29 Jul 2022

Image: Jornal Alerta

The Mozambican Ministry of Transport and Communications has called for the immediate imprisonment of drivers involved in traffic accidents on roads which result in one or more deaths, following the wave of accidents that have been occurring along the main north-south highway (N1).

During a Thursday press conference in Maputo on combatting traffic accidents, a Ministry spokesperson, Ambrosio Sitoe, called for immediate imprisonment for cases of irregular overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and for driving at 20 kilometres an hour above the speed limit.

The extraordinary measures, said Sitoe, should include the seizure of any vehicle identification document which is believed to be counterfeit or shows signs of tampering.

“In addition to the suspension of the driving license for offenders who commit medium and serious offenses and the seizure of the identification document of any vehicle found to be circulating without the required safety conditions, the measures also include the immediate reintroduction of the alcohol test for driving and zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs”, he said.

“We have been careful to look at the law, look at the Highway Code, and we are aware that we cannot put into place any measures that are outside the law”, Sitoe added.

He also pointed out as extraordinary measures to combat traffic accidents, the civil liability of the driver involved, who will be obliged to compensate injured persons, including the State. Under this proposal, drivers will be obliged “to repair the damage caused to public property and infrastructure, namely buildings, lampposts, bridges, among others”.

As a condition for the return of the seized license, drivers sanctioned with an additional penalty of driving disqualification due to medium or serious offenses will be obliged to attend a Road Safety Course. “The course must prioritise defensive driving and other good practices for safety and sharing the public road”, Sitoe stressed.
The extraordinary measures extend to reviewing speed limits, improving signposts, and removing fixed obstacles on public roads.

Other measures, according to Sitoe, include the intensification of road traffic enforcement at the points of greatest occurrence of traffic accidents, and the permanent coordination of anti-corruption investigators with the road inspection brigades.

“All the announced measures come into effect as of today (28 July)”, Sitoe declared.

In addition to designing and implementing an integrated road safety campaign, focusing on communication and education of all stakeholders on public roads, Sitoe pointed out the need for the implementation of a platform for communication and management of complaints.

The revision of the Highway Code and other road transport regulations is under way, he added, which aims at imposing heavier penalties for traffic violations, as well as reorganising the licensing of transport activities.

“The Ministry calls on all stakeholders in mobility to strictly comply with the rules of driving and reiterates that it will be relentless in holding offenders accountable to prevent further bloodshed on our roads”, Sitoe stressed.

During the first six months of 2022, there were 494 traffic accidents on Mozambican roads, which resulted in 434 deaths and 973 injuries.

Compared to the same period in 2021, the trend is upwards, with a nine per cent increase in the number of road accidents, a four per cent increase in deaths, and a 36 per cent increase in serious injuries.

Source: AIM