Children younger than twelve years may not be seated in front seat of a vehicle or not having an on seatbelt anymore. One of the measures that the Minister of Justice Arthur Dower has announced during a press conference, to improve road safety.
Helmet requirement
The government in addition wants to address the quad/atv drivers for driving without a helmet. For many years, accidents have happened with these vehicles, partly because a helmet use was not reinforced. That requirement is there and the helmet requirement will apply to tourists too, the minister stressed.
Parking
The Minister desires to help in addition the weaker members of the society. The elderly and disabled people will get allocated parking spots. They get a parking ticket, so their cars will not be towed away. It may come to pass to those who should not be using these special handicapped parking spots and can count on a big fine. Moreover, whoever decides to just park his car on the pavement or puts it in other places that have no parking sign, can be towed away. The towing costs are then passed to the error parker.
Jaywalk
The minister wants to ask all crossing pedestrians, to make sure they use the crosswalk or other crossing pad. "Whoever chooses to cross just everywhere else, can be fined for this in the future."
Intersection
Dower also announced yesterday that the dangerous intersection on the Sasakiweg, near the former House of Cheng, is addressed. The road to and from the hotels is one way. It is prohibited from the Sasakiweg to enter this road. This is a temporary measure, until traffic lights or other traffic controllers can solve the traffic situation. "Whoever ignores or circumvents this barrier will be severely punished," warned the minister. The action is in response to a number of serious accidents at this intersection, some with fatal outcome.
Speed cameras
Another measure to reduce fatalities is the initiation of speed cameras. This speed restriction is very popular with prosecutors in the Netherlands.
Speed Violations
Speed violations with the new traffic laws can expect additional heavy fines. How much the fines will go up, is not known yet. Finally, old timers now meet certain conditions before they enter the road.
The new traffic measures were announced yesterday in a press conference. Dowers did so with the members of the traffic commission, police inspector Richard Muller and Commissioner Dolfi Richardson. "The traffic committee will continue to come with recommendations to further improve road safety." The proposals have been forwarded to the Advisory Board, after that it will be presented to parliament.
