To improve safety, reduce congestion, and ensure smoother traffic flow, the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority has issued a public notice prohibiting parking and stopping at various locations along the roads. Issued earlier this month, the notice warns that violators will be penalised under the Road Safety and Transport Regulation 2021.
Section 367 of the Road Safety and Transport Regulations 2021 prohibits stopping vehicles on footpaths, pedestrian crossings, expressways, multiple-lane roads, bridges, blind curves, street parking areas, and in ways that block footpaths, laneways, or private driveways.
The BCTA notification also states that if an accident caused by improper parking or stopping results in death, injury, or property damage, the vehicle owner will be held liable.
Following the notification, taxi drivers in the capital expressed concerns that strict enforcement of the regulation will hamper their business.
Pema Wangchuk Doya, a taxi driver said “as taxi drivers, we have to stop wherever passengers hail or request a lift. So, this restriction would affect us. However, the regulation is generally beneficial for everyone. In core town areas, there are designated spots where taxis can and cannot stop. If the authority could allow us to stop wherever passengers request a lift, it would benefit both taxi drivers and passengers.”
Kezang Thinley from the Bhutan Taxi Association said “we are restricted from stopping our taxis at city bus stops, including the area near Olakha Bridge. I suggest that the authority consider allowing vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers when there is no traffic congestion.”
Thinley Yoezer, a vehicle owner said “If we are not allowed to stop vehicles, then I think there should be an alternative way for people to cross the road, as young students will have difficulty crossing.”
However, the Construction and Transport Authority clarified that the strict enforcement of parking and stopping regulations is not new; they are simply upholding existing rules.
Meanwhile, city bus drivers have welcomed the authority’s move.
“We face difficulties during rush hours, both in the morning and evening. At our designated bus stops, other vehicles also park there during these times, making it challenging for us to stop our buses,” said Tshewang Tashi, a city bus driver.
According to the authority, the notification serves as a reminder that these regulations are in place.
Data from the BCTA shows that over 2,500 vehicles were fined for improper parking between July 2023 and June 2024.
Tashi Chezom
Edited by Sherub Dorji
