RTSA Closes Driving Schools

THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has with immediate effect closed down 61 driving schools out of the 100 that were inspected.
And the agency, in the first quarter of 2014, collected about K110.4 million on behalf of government from road licences and other road transport-related services.
RTSA chief executive officer Zindaba Soko said it has come to the attention of the agency that over 90 percent of the driving schools in the country do not conform to the required standard.
“The agency will not in any way transact with any of the closed driving schools and a special operation will soon be conducted to clamp down more illegal driving schools in the country,” he said.
Among the driving schools closed and barred are Abecon, Auto, Best Bike, Camel, Forward, Shalom, Silvia, Kom and Kakeka in Lusaka.
Others are Mbumwaye and Kabanga driving schools of Southern Province, MSI, 2010, and Galaxy driving school on the Copperbelt.
Mr Soko said during the period under review, the agency also ordered for re-test of all drivers of Mbwe Motorways -a passenger public service operator.
He said it was established that only eight out of the 10 drivers were re-examined. The drivers re-test reports for Mbwe motorways revealed that from the eight drivers examined, only three managed to satisfy overall requirements of the attributes of a good PSV driver.
Mr Soko said the agency is enforcing the Road Traffic Act in its totality as it strives to promote adherence to road safety regulations in the country.
He also said since launching the fast-track courts in October last year, 3,500 people have been convicted for various traffic offences.
Mr Soko said unlicensed drivers have continued to top the list of offenders followed by dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and obstruction of motorway by motor vehicle.
He said soon the fast-track courts on traffic offences will be rolled out to Kabwe, Livingstone, Chipata, Ndola and Kitwe.
And Mr Soko said it is the obligation of the agency to collect road user fees on behalf of government.
He said a review of the road transport system database shows that 40 percent had not complied with licencing or examination requirements which resulted in uncollected government revenue.
Mr Soko said a further review of the operations revealed that the agency has great potential to increase its revenue collections, improve road safety profile and contribute to national development.
He said it is with no doubt that modern road traffic enforcement requires surveillance equipment.
This year the agency will intensify road traffic enforcement through procurement of enforcement equipment, which includes10 speed cameras to be placed on highways and 40 area lighting systems for road clocks and accident scenes.
Mr Soko said RTSA will also employee 100 road traffic inspectors to increase routine patrols.
Meanwhile, RTSA has embarked on a programme to introduce road safety education into the Zambian main school curriculum.
“The agency, in conjunction with the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), has published road safety books to help school-going children,” he said.

Posted by Kunda on June 1, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.