Land Transport Authority Chief Executive Officer Mr Naisa Tuinaceva believes that motorists who drive at excessive speed are potential killers. This week, he suspended the driving license of eight drivers who were booked for multiple speeding violations.
The Authority suspended the driver license for a period of three up to 11 months, of two drivers from the central division and six from the western division during the monthly show cause disciplinary hearing at LTA. As of today, the Authority has suspended 150 driver license while more have been identified for suspension and termination.
Speeding remains the top contributor to all fatal accidents on our roads. Suspending the license of notorious drivers is among many proactive and preventative measures the Authority will take in a bid to reduce road fatalities.
A total of 49 people have died on our roads so far this year compared to 37 in the same period last year. Last year, 49 people died on our roads however 12 more deaths have been recorded with three months left for the year to end.
While suspending the drivers, Mr Tuinaceva said notorious drivers are a threat to other road users.
“Based on your driving record especially with the number of speed tickets, you are a potential killer and the LTA needs to be proactive and preventative before you kill somebody on our roads,” he remarked.
“Your driving record tells us that you are unfit, and most importantly your attitude tells us that you do not value human lives. So if you cannot learn to value your role as a driver, and honour the terms and conditions of your driving license, how can you value other motorists? The LTA is sick and tired of telling drivers to slow down. We, have installed cameras to deter drivers from speeding, yet people are being killed mercilessly by such drivers.’’
Mr Tuinaceva added that the LTA had this year formulated a policy whereby drivers caught with over 15 speeding violations will be subjected to show cause followed by suspension of their driving license. This has been done as a proactive approach based on statistics and information that indicate that speeding is the main cause of fatal accidents on our roads in the last 15 to 20 years.
The LTA has also urged the public to make use of its free 582 texting platform to report any reckless driving behaviour.