Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz says a comprehensive review will be undertaken concerning the recently proposed demerit point system used to suspend driver’s licenses.

“A comprehensive review in relation to demerit points will be undertaken, as it relates to fines and demerit penalties under the Road Traffic Act 2018 and Regulations 2022, by the Public Transport Operator Steering Committee. The recommendations are being reviewed by the ministry with a view to being taken to Cabinet in short order,” Vaz explained.

The minister noted that June 30 is the timeline for recommendations to be tabled in Cabinet.

Public transport operators have raised concern surrounding a decision by the Transport Authority regarding the suspension of driver’s licenses for public passenger vehicles (PPVs) who have accumulated 10 demerit points.

The Transport Minister, while speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (June 26), said consideration is being made to remove demerit points for static offences under the Road Traffic Act.

“With respect to moving violations causing accidents, fatalities, and disorder on public roads, demerit points will be imposed versus non-moving static offences. Consideration is being made to remove demerit points for static offences. What is a static offence? A faulty headlight is anything that is caused by the car moving, and it is something that makes a lot of sense to me, I will be absolutely supportive of how to implement this in a seamless manner. I believe that the demerit points for non-movable offences will put drivers at risk of getting enough demerit points to lose their license within a short period of time, which is not the intent. The intent is to keep the roads safe and in discipline,” Vaz said.

The Transport Minister outlined that there are some 23,243 licenses that would be eligible for suspension under the new Road Traffic Act. Of that figure, 11,193 are public passenger vehicle operators.

Meanwhile, Vaz said there will also be a review of the provisions in the new Road Traffic Act relating to the use of electronic devices while driving.