Latvian Ministry of Transport has plans to adopt a prohibition on the use of driver’s licence if the driver exceeds speed limits by more than 30 km/h. This was reported by Ministry of Transport Public Transport Service Department Director Annija Novikova at a Thursday, the 23rd of November, meeting of the Road Safety Council (CSDP).
Proposals were also submitted for safe use of electric scooters.
Currently, the Road Traffic Regulations provide that deprivation of driver’s licence occurs if the permitted driving speed is exceeded between 51 km/h and 60 km/h. In this case the guilty person is given a fine of EUR 240 to EUR 320 and deprivation of driver’s licence for a period of three months. If the speed limit violation was greater than that, the fine becomes greater and the period of time during which the guilty party is not allowed to drive a vehicle is longer.
Novikova explained at the meeting that the ministry’s proposal for amendments to the Road Traffic Law
also provide for a fine in place of a warning
for exceeding the speed limits by more than 6 km/h. Proposals were also submitted for a new definition for electric scooters.
“The definition of an electric scooter will be expanded with a new component, as well as a requirement for it to be stated that an electric scooter is a vehicle with two wheels,” added Novikova. At the same time, she said the ministry has also submitted requirements in relation to motorways, standing and parking regulations in relation to vehicle evacuation.
“Additionally, proposals also include penalties for repeated violations committed without mandatory Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance (OCTA) and without technical inspection certificate. If proposals are supported, it will be possible to punish people for that once a day,” added Novikova.
The representative of the Ministry of Transport also reminded that the proposals currently adopted in the Road Traffic Law include the mandatory registration of electric scooter racing wheels, which will come into effect from April next year; behavioural correction courses for violators convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, narcotic or psychotropic substances, as well as other measures.
Amendments to new requirements for winter tires have also been adopted, while the latest amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations will still have to be adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers. The latter includes requirements for participation in road traffic on high-speed roads, mandatory safety helmets for cyclists under the age of 16, as well as mandatory helmets for electric racing drivers aged 14-17 and other requirements.
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