The guests of "Duel" on Tuesday morning were Alain Jeannot, president of the Road Accident Prevention Association All Before (Aprat) and Raffick Bahadoor, president of the Taxi Proprietors' Union.
> How do you welcome the introduction of penalty points to Parliament?
Alain Jeannot: We welcome with satisfaction the measure. We are a modern country and we have a large fleet of vehicles. We believe that the penalty points will allow us to move in the right direction.
> Do you think this will make drivers more responsible?
Alain Jeannot: Of course! A license gives you the ability to drive. From now on, whenever a driver takes the wheel or his bike, he will think twice before making a traffic offense, because he must be responsible when driving.
> Do not you think that this law may penalize drivers by profession?
Alain Jeannot: We can analyze the situation in another way. Professional drivers who are most often on the roads, must take more precautions. This is not because they are professionals they can be involved in an accident. Being professional does not exonerate them of their responsibilities.
> Is it right to suspend a license for six months after accumulating sixteen point penalty?
Alain Jeannot: Why not? When you're on the road, the slightest mistake can kill a person or a disabled person to make life. Is it fair that someone who leaves her house, go back on a stretcher or ends up in hospital because of the irresponsibility of a drunk driver?
> Does all this is not likely to encourage cases of Hit and Run?
Alain Jeannot: Every law has its advantages and disadvantages. Authorities install cameras everywhere on our roads. We note that this may hinder the hit and run.
> How do you welcome the introduction of penalty points?
Raffick Bahadoor: Very badly ... We are not against the principle, but we do not agree with how to introduce the concept. The minister should have consulted everyone involved, including truckers, taxi drivers and drivers of vans. It should have a first draft and ask us against proposals. Score points should have been different for drivers who use their cars half an hour morning and afternoon and for those who earn their living.
> Even so, they are professional drivers who are already aware of what to do or not do, does not it?
Raffick Bahadoor: Unfortunately, the law is made ??so that if you fail to obey a police order, you are already experiencing crime. Imagine you have 13 points and you know you will lose your license in the next ticket ... how to cope?
> In all this, the driver is obliged to behave themselves while driving?
Raffick Bahadoor: Sure, but where is the responsibility of the pedestrian? Is there a law for pedestrians, cyclists, those who use electric autocycles? Does the Minister has considered all that and road conditions?
> The security people do not have a price ...
Raffick Bahadoor: At no time, we said that we are against the penalty point. In a civilized country, we must take into consideration the opinion of everyone. Nobody has a monopoly on intelligence ... We are against the way of the authorities. For five years, the minister knew that there would be a law as sharp and never took the opinion of the trade union federation. Whose fault?
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