Road to safety

SWEEPING changes will soon be enforced on roads with increased fines as the Road Transport Authority introduces its new Road Traffic Act.
While a lot of the laws have not changed, enforcement and new fines give them a newlook and are expected to make motorists think twice about offending.
The main message in the changes was safety, the authority said.
Defective lights, front or rear, can cost up to K5000, failing to dip headlights can cost up to K1500, failing to apply the trafficator where necessary can cost up to K1000 and failing to produce a driver’s licence is punishable by a fine of up to K2000.
Most of the fines reaching court range from K1000 to K10,000.
Drink driving can cost up to K5000, depending on alcohol content in the blood or breath.
The fines and regulations have been brought up to Australian and New Zealand standards.
Fines for failing to stop at pedestrian crossings to allow people to cross or not following traffic signs start from K500.
Using a mobile phone or two way radio while driving or carrying an unsupervised child under six years old on the tray of a vehicle will cost between K500 and K2500.
Failure to wear or fasten seatbelts where one is available will attract a K400 penalty.
The authority yesterday urged drivers to start complying with the new rules.
Licensing and registration acting manager Wilson Wariaka said the main message was to promote safety.
“Many laws (traffic) are not new,” he said.
“Our focus now is on enforcement. “Increased fees is to make people comply.”