In the opening speech of the launch act, the Minister of the Interior, Eugénio Laborinho, referred that the code in force, from 2008, is "inadjusted to the current legal-constitutional, economic and social context of the country".
"Of the specific objectives defined, we highlight the education of public road users, the increase in fines applied to offenders, the adjustment of the matter on the levels of alcohol in the body of drivers, the improvement of technical procedures for the application of sanctioning measures of inhibition to drive, reducing the feeling of impunity for drivers and clarifying the legal and technical provisions of the code", said Laborinho.
In the presentation of the project, sub-commissioner Roque Silva highlighted that in terms of sanctions, a zero rate of alcohol in the blood was set for transport drivers of public emergency services, schools, dangerous goods and motorcycles and mopeds.
For the use of a cell phone while driving, the project provides for an increase in the fine, attributing the competence to block and remove vehicles to the National Police and removing this task to the inspection services of the provincial governments.
In the summary of the project, it is also highlighted that the road and traffic services are now empowered to process and apply serious and very serious sanctions, changing from fine to fine.
"The fines were increased, especially for the most committed infractions, in order to mitigate the feeling of impunity", said Roque Silva, citing the increase in fines for infractions committed by pedestrians, in order to discipline their behavior on the roads.
The proposal also foresees the reduction of the maximum permissible speed limits, to 10 kilometers per hour, for all categories of vehicles and locations, and the increase of the penalty, due to the large number of accidents due to speeding.
With regard to vehicle inspection, the process becomes more rigorous, to overcome the poor technical condition, which is the cause of many accidents in the country.
On the issue of legal driving license, the categories were adapted, which went from eight to 13, it is expected that a situation affecting drivers of collective passenger vehicles, prevented from entering neighboring countries such as Namibia and South Africa.
"They [Angolan drivers] have to transfer. They stop at the border, because we don't have that category, in the same way we have difficulty with drivers from South Africa and Namibia, when they come here", explained the deputy commissioner.
The proposal, which will be in public consultation throughout the country until September, was prepared by the National Traffic Planning Council, within the scope of the National Plan for Prevention and Road Safety 2023-2027, approved last May by the Government, which defines the lines masters of public safety.
The bill to revise the Highway Code includes the amendment of 72 articles and the introduction of three new articles.
