Mozambique is preparing to change course on road safety. Meeting in plenary session in Maputo, the Assembly of the Republic on Friday, November 6, adopted by consensus and in final reading the bill authorising the government to revise the Highway Code. All four parliamentary groups backed the text, a rare show of unity on an issue that affects the daily lives of millions of Mozambicans.
The reform had been long awaited. The code currently in force dates from a March 2011 decree-law, which itself replaced legislation inherited from 1954. Fifteen years on, the authorities consider these rules outdated in light of changing traffic patterns, technological progress and the arrival of new types of vehicles. The proposal had been approved by the Council of Ministers back in June before being sent to lawmakers.
Addressing the chamber, Transport and Logistics Minister João Matlombe defended a reform designed to bring the law into line with the realities of national and international traffic while promoting more sustainable mobility. Above all, the government intends to put an end to what it describes as anarchy on the roads. In its view, certain practices must now fall under criminal law, and motorists must take responsibility for their behaviour. Treating offences as normal, the executive argues, only weakens enforcement and undermines police action.
Among the flagship measures is the introduction of a points-based driving licence. Each driver will start with a set number of points that will be deducted for each offence, a system already tested in many countries that will make it possible to track every motorist’s record. Video surveillance cameras will also be installed on the roads to strengthen enforcement. The text further provides for the Highway Code to be harmonised with national criminal law, paving the way for the most serious offences to be prosecuted in court.
High-risk behaviour will be punished more severely. Driving under the influence of alcohol or psychotropic substances is directly targeted, as is using a mobile phone at the wheel, which the minister singled out in particular. Professional drivers will also come under closer scrutiny, especially in long-distance passenger and freight transport, a sector often linked to the deadliest crashes.
Finally, the reform adapts to changes in the vehicle fleet. New rules will cover electric, hybrid and gas-powered vehicles, which were absent from the 2011 code. Enforcement will also be paired with prevention. João Matlombe announced stronger driver education and civic rehabilitation programmes for penalised drivers, with the aim of building a genuine culture of responsible citizenship on the road.
Implementation is the next step. Now that it has parliamentary authorisation, the government must draft the new code and set out the timetable for the various measures to take effect. Mozambican motorists will therefore have to wait a little longer before the first penalty points are deducted.