Making highways safer

The new traffic rules are aimed to curb road mishaps and reckless driving, among others

The new traffic rules are aimed to curb road mishaps and reckless driving, among others

Bhutan is the only country known to the world as a country where traffic lights are replaced by manned posts to monitor the flow of traffic in the many towns and cities.

The recent move by Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTSA) and the Royal Bhutan Police(RBP)’s traffic division to increase the penalty for flouting traffic rules has been received with both flak and appreciation from the general public and road users as a whole.

For instance, the incidences of drunk driving which is the most common and severe cause for road accidents in the country has been raised to Nu 1720. Similarly, over speeding will now carry a penalty of Nu 5000 and disrespecting pedestrian zebra crossings Nu 1500 per incidence.

An official from RSTA said that the penalties were raised so that our road users do not flout traffic rules and to make our roads and highways safe for the general public.

“It has been noted that our fines and penalties were too low so that offenders were not at all deterred by the amount of penalties imposed on them. The rise in the fines will send a strong message to road users that flouting traffic rules will not be tolerated henceforth,” the official said.

It was also noted that road accidents and the number of cases of drink driving and other incidences have decreased ever since RSTA and traffic police personnel started imposing penalties and conducting surprise checks at numerous points across the highways.

The new rules are expected to further add impetus on achieving the target of safe roads for the general public. “The general public and road users must understand that the penalties are for their own good and ensure that our roads are safe for both drivers and pedestrians,” Nima, a traffic policeman said.

Nonetheless, a section of the general public says that the penalties are too harsh and that it is a revenue making move by the RSTA and traffic police to impose higher penalties on defaulters.

Tshering Ghalley, 36, a civil servant who commutes along the ThimphuParo highway everyday says that the concerned authorities like RSTA and Traffic division of the police should conduct more road safety and awareness programs than increase the penalties.

“Most of the offenders are lorry drivers, meat vans and taxis who are manned by so-called professional drivers behind the wheels. These people are the most reckless drivers and the concerned authorities should target these groups if our roads are to be made safer,” Tshering Ghalley added.

Sonam Tshering a cabbie said that the Lorries, especially those driving along the Thimphu-Wangdue and the Samdrupjongkhar-Pemagatshel highways, drive at breakneck speed often endangering the safety of other cars using the same roads.

“These lorry drivers do not apply brakes even at the bends and it would be a big disaster if a car driving from the opposite direction was to collide with them. They are always in a hurry to make more trips and earn more, and cared less of other road users. RSTA and traffic police must do something to curb this reckless driving practice,” Sonam said, adding that traffic police should monitor these roads and drivers more frequently.

A bus driver who drove between Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway on a daily basis said that the cabbies and lorry drivers had a network to inform each other of any checks that were going along the highways.

“The truck and taxi drivers will inform others driving on the same highways to be extra cautious or offload any extra passengers they were carrying if traffic personnel were deputed on the highways. This is how most of them, despite flouting the rules, gets away unpunished,” the bus driver requesting anonymity said.

Meanwhile, a RSTA official said that they have plans to install more CCTVs and man the highways with regular traffic checkups. “But more than anything it is the public who must take the initiative to be extra cautious while on the wheels so that accidents can be averted and our roads become safer,” he added.

While some said that the penalty for drink driving and over speeding was too high, many believed that it is a welcome move by RSTA as it will help prevent road mishaps to a great extent.

“We should penalize these rash drivers who not only risk their own lives but others using the roads too. The authorities should also look at cancelling their driving licenses or make the penalties even harsher,” Penjor Gyeltshen a businessman based in Thimphu said, adding that it is time to implement harsher punishments as the numbers of cars are constantly on the rise in the country.

While majority of road users have welcomed the new move, the RSTA and traffic police are also looking at means to study if revising the penalties can actually help curb accidents and maintain road discipline.