Plates: NTA asks suppliers to adopt the British Standards

Forty-three years after Independence, the NTA is still living in UK time. In a statement on Friday, April 8 at the press, this organization indicates that the number plate suppliers must comply with British standards for new regulations of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2010.

The NTA believes that many license plates installed so far are not consistent with the new law.

From 1 July, all vehicles on the roads in Mauritius will be equipped with a white plate in front and another in yellow on the back. This is a matter of visibility.

These plates must be manufactured from a retro-reflective material and must be marked with the initials "BS AU 145d", the famous British standards and the manufacturer's name plate. The NTA also states that they can be modified to make them visible at night.

"They are special plates that we introduce to facilitate police work," said Ben Buntipilly, Special Advisor to the Office of the Prime Minister on road safety. He says that these plates are retro-reflective, more visible at night for police and will also make it easier to identify vehicles by radar.

Motorists, as well, less than three months to replace their license plates. A measure will affect around 370 000 vehicles. Motorists will pay an average of Rs 800 for installation of these new plates. The criteria were defined by an amendment to the Road (Construction and Use) Regulations, in February 2010.

Raffick Bahadoor, president of Taxi Proprietors Union (TPU), said he is back because he felt that decisions were taken lightly. "We are not against this initiative.Instead, we are for development.But we strongly disagree with the way things were done.Minister Anil Bachoo amended a law without even consulting us and we condemn this attitude," explains Raffick Bahadoor.

In fact, this is not the first time that decisions are taken without consultation. There was the speed limit on the axis Camp Chapelon - Sorèzes the requirement for motorists to keep a fire extinguisher in their vehicles. Besides the increase in parking tickets and their replacement has caused many worries.