Malawi adjust fees for road traffic offenses

The Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) in Malawi has adjusted fees for road traffic services and fines in an apparent attempt to reduce increasing cases of road accidents largely blamed on reckless driving.

The new fees and fines for prescribed offenses will be with effect from November 13.

Road traffic authorities say in a statement that the adjustments have also been necessitated by an increase in cost of service and materials that the Directorate uses in order to serve the general public efficiently.

“On the other hand, the continued increase in violations of road traffic laws has shown that the current fines and penalties are not deterrent enough hence the increase,” reads a statement.

The Directorate management says it will soon announce the prescribed fees and offenders through various media outlets.

“The schedule will also be available at Ministry of Transport and Public Works offices at all DRTSS (Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services) offices in Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu,” says the statement.

In a related development, some of Chancellor College’s third year law students has formed a non-profit making organization, Accidents Reduction Watchdog which seeks to help authorities reduce road traffic cases.

Monica Namondwe one of the key members of the organization says the organization will be sensitizing road users on provisions of relevant legislations that regulate road traffic.

“We will also sensitize learners what the laws say and the country wants them to do. People must not comply because there is a penalty.”

Malawi has recently seen an increase in road accidents in which many people have died and several others seriously injured.

The recent road accident happened Thursday in Mzimba district in which 21 Malawi soldiers died and many others seriously injured after the vehicle they were traveling in overturned at a bend due to over speeding.

The DRTSS rolled out the  Malawi Traffic Information System (Maltis) which comprises Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement component which was adopted in 2000, to capture, process and store traffic information and is used for the issuance and renewal of drivers’ licence, motor vehicle licences and permits, road permits and weighbridge data