It takes a great deal of courage for a parliamentary secretary to say, at the launch of new arrangements governing minor traffic contraventions, that “this government does not consider wardens to be a money-making machine”. If his government really believed that, it would have made the new arrangements in the early days of the administration, not in the last lap before the next general election. Which is precisely why many are considering the “reform” as a populist move.

Having said that, is the decision to take a more lenient stand over a number of minor contraventions wise or unwise? Many wardens have often proved themselves totally unfit for the post as, consciously or unconsciously, they have shown, in most cases, to be after making money for their agency rather than doing their bit to bring about greater responsibility on the road by using their better judgement before booking motorists. A number of them ridiculed themselves by hiding behind trees or walls in their zeal to book offenders.

To those who do not think twice before breaking traffic rules, the instructions to wardens to give first-time offenders a warning, instead of a fine, in the case of six minor contraventions, is a godsend. However, the last thing the country needs today is a relaxation of discipline on the road.

The situation as it stands is already absolutely chaotic, especially in the busiest localities. Giving a warning, instead of a fine, for a contravention may very well lead to further indiscipline. When driving is, at most times, already a nerve-racking experience, it does not seem right to relax the rules.

What is striking in the new arrangements is that there appears to be a legal anomaly in the sense that, as the enforcement agency chief has been reported as saying, the relaxation of the six traffic contraventions does not apply to enforcement carried out by the police. In other words, the police can still book motorists for the same contraventions. This makes little sense, if at all, and the problem needs to be seen to immediately.

The six contraventions over which traffic wardens have been instructed to act more leniently are certain cases of illegal parking; vehicle lights not in order; damaged glass on lights; road licence not affixed to windscreen; defective silencers; and vehicles missing body parts. In the latter case, the examples given are side mirrors, mudguards and the front grille. A car without a front grille may not seem to pose any problem but it could be indicative of a motorist who may not care too much about rules.

Considering the new arrangements against a wider context, what ought to receive greater attention is the widespread use of mobile telephones while driving. Even though thousands have already been fined for such a glaring contravention, the practice is getting even more widespread, posing serious danger to other drivers on the road.

No leniency ought to be given for such a contravention. On the contrary, there is surely a case for raising the fine even higher to make a stronger deterrence.

Safety on the road comes first, which is why the plan to raise fines for driving over the alcohol limit and the extension of the penalty point system to all drivers are also steps in the right direction. Public attention has now also been drawn to the need of seeing to drug-driving laws.

This country needs far more discipline on the road. This latest concession indicates the authorities may wish to turn a blind eye.

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