The Council of the Nation (Senate) convened today for a public session where the Minister of Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, Said Sayoud, presented the new traffic law. This legislation is being hailed as a significant step towards enhancing road safety and protecting citizens from traffic accidents.
During the session, presided over by Council President Azzouz Nasseri and attended by the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Najiba Djilali, Minister Sayoud emphasized that the law represents a crucial advancement in promoting safer roads and safeguarding lives. He noted that traffic accidents have become a severe problem with devastating consequences, and this law aims to address this urgent issue.
The proposed law seeks to modernize traffic management in line with the rapid increase in vehicles and infrastructure development. Key provisions include a revised process for obtaining driver’s licenses, requiring applicants to meet stringent legal requirements, particularly regarding their fitness to operate vehicles.
Furthermore, the legislation mandates equipping security personnel with advanced technological tools for electronic payment of fines, drug detection, and cargo weight monitoring at security checkpoints. A particularly important aspect of the law criminalizes the issuance of falsified technical inspection or conformity reports. Those found to have omitted vehicle defects or included false information will face prosecution.
The law also assigns responsibility to driving schools, vocational training institutions, road maintenance personnel, and importers, manufacturers, and distributors of counterfeit vehicle parts. Traffic offenses are categorized based on severity, ranging from minor infractions to more serious misdemeanors. Specific penalties, such as license suspension or revocation and vehicle confiscation, are outlined in the legislation.
In its preliminary report, the Senate’s Committee on Equipment and Local Development raised concerns regarding the lack of adequate preparation prior to the law’s proposal and the insufficient involvement of stakeholders in the transport sector during its drafting. The committee also questioned the absence of a point-based driver’s license system, advocating for alternative approaches to high fines. Concerns were also raised about road conditions, the proliferation of speed bumps, and the need to promote road safety studies and expand the use of modern technologies like smart radars and digital surveillance systems.
