Driving Too Slowly Could Also Lead to Fines Under Proposed Transport Bill

Drivers could soon face fines not only for speeding but also for driving below the prescribed minimum speed limit, according to a draft Vehicle and Transport Management Bill prepared by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The proposed bill includes provisions that would allow traffic police and transport inspectors to impose penalties on drivers who fail to comply with designated speed limits. This applies to both exceeding and falling below the speed limits set for specific roads.

According to the draft, motorists driving below the minimum speed specified for a particular road could be fined between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000. For example, if a road has a minimum speed limit of 40 km/h, vehicles travelling below that threshold may be subject to penalties.

The bill also proposes significantly higher fines for overspeeding. Two- and three-wheelers could face fines of up to Rs. 25,000, small four-wheelers up to Rs. 35,000, and medium and large vehicles up to Rs. 50,000. However, drivers exceeding the speed limit by up to five percent would not be penalised.

The amount of the fine would vary depending on how much the driver exceeds the speed limit. The draft proposes penalties based on different levels of violation, with higher percentages attracting larger fines.

The Ministry has already sent the draft bill to the Ministry of Law for review. Once legal clearance is obtained, it will be forwarded to the Council of Ministers. If approved by the Cabinet, the bill will then be tabled in the Federal Parliament.