Cabinet paper for pilot project of Rs.1 billion next week New Demerit points system will create disciplined drivers – DMT Chief

• The new demerit points system will link the DMT, Sri Lanka Police,  Courts and Judicial system and even the private insurance agencies 

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

A Europe style new Demerit points system for vehicles that will create more law abiding disciplined drivers in Sri Lanka was the notion of the recently appointed Commissioner General for the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT).   
In an interview DMT Chief Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe told the Daily Mirror yesterday that it is all set to present a Cabinet paper for a pilot project of about Rs.1 billion within the first two weeks of the new year.   
Mr. Weerasinghe explained that the new demerit points system will link the DMT, Sri Lanka Police, Courts and Judicial system and even the private insurance agencies in the future together to monitor a motorist or a rider and their vehicular behaviour. 

  Presently, when a motorist commits an offense he or she will be dealt by the police with the motor traffic act and whatever the penalty or fine the wrongdoer may continue to do it over and over again.  But with the new demerit points system every driver or rider will be awarded a demerit depending on the offense they commit up to a maximum of 20 points. 

 
Once all the 20 points were awarded the motorist’s driver’s license will be terminated and he or she may have to apply for a new one entirely from the beginning of sitting for his driving exam and the practical test.  Also, the police officers will be provided a POS machine (point-of-sale) enabling the motorists who committed offences on the run to be issued with spot fines instead of asking them to pay it to a post office and to return to the specific police station /area to regain his driver’s license.  “In this way the time and efficiency of the motorists will be saved, whilst no underhand transactions will be made involving police officers to go scot free,” he said.   

“Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena and State Minister of Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna have given us instructions to begin this project in the first quarter of 2023” Weerasinghe said.