Observing the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims today, the RSTA released the Road Safety and Transport Regulations 2021. The revised regulation will replace the 1999 regulation and is expected to cater to the emerging needs and changing road transport scenario.
To ensure safety, the regulation will streamline motor vehicle registration and its renewals, licensing of drivers, emission testing, vehicle road worthiness and vehicle ownership transfer among others.
“With specific reference to safety, we have now brought in the mandatory requirement of the driver and conductor certificate for passenger buses. And also includes the requirements for the relevant agencies to make the road safer like the agencies which are dealing with the infrastructure,” said Sithar Dorji, Chief Transport Officer with the RSTA.
He added they will introduce drug-testing for drivers. “We are emphasising on the drug testing for the public transport operators, drivers and even for the private individuals, the sudden check on the road side which earlier regulation doesn’t really mention. We were focusing more on drink driving. But now the drug issue is becoming more relevant.”
Over speeding, drink driving, using mobile phones while driving and driving without a license are some of the reasons for the increasing accidents in the country. This is according to this year’s RSTA annual report.
The information and communications minister, Karma Donnen Wangdi said road traffic injuries cause considerable social and economic losses to individuals, families and to the nation as a whole. “The loss arises from the cost of treatment as well as loss of productivity for those skilled or disabled by such injuries and the family members who need to take time of work to care for the injured.”
He said a study has found that productivity loss due to such accidents is around one per cent of the national GDP.
As of October 31 this year, there are 117,748 vehicles in the country and half of it is registered in Thimphu.
According to the WHO, low speeds on the road save lives.
Sonam Pem
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
