No specific date set for road traffic bill amendment

The Road Traffic Bill amendment was passed in its first reading at the Legislative Assembly in April last year, but Ella Lei, chairperson of the Assembly’s First Standing Committee, stated Monday that it is currently impossible to determine if the detailed new text will be submitted for deliberation before the session ends.

The standing committee held its initial discussion on the amendment to the Road Traffic Bill in May 2024, with the general discussion and vote passing by a majority.

According to the Legislative Assembly website, the relevant committee did not reconvene to discuss the bill until May 23 of this year. Among the texts reviewed in detail by the standing committee, several significant amendments to the Road Traffic Law Bill were made, including the adjustment of the “demerit point system” from the draft text to the “Road Traffic Violation Point System” to better address administrative violations by drivers.

“We, the committee, are still in a review phase, focused on clarifying all issues, which is why we are working closely together. Our goal is to progress beyond this stage and complete our work. As I mentioned last time, we are not yet able to assess certain matters because we are still discussing and need to identify the questions and concerns of our fellow members,” she said.

At a press briefing after the closed-door meeting, the legislator quoted the attending government officials as committing to review the bill’s details to ensure clarity and enforceability.

Lei quoted the government, emphasizing the importance of developing comprehensive road traffic laws: “The government reaffirmed today [yesterday] that it will first review the entire legal text in response to the concerns raised by legislators. Additionally, it will enhance public awareness and education on traffic safety […] This is essential for ensuring the safety of both drivers and pedestrians. Accordingly, regulations and principles will be established to achieve general and specific prevention goals, thereby reinforcing everyone’s awareness and attitude toward driving safety.”

According to the press briefing, the government clearly stated during the meeting that it plans to revise the entire Road Traffic Bill using existing regulations from the current Road Traffic Safety Law. This revision will be organized into three main sections: general traffic rules, vehicle specifications, and driving qualifications.

The committee has already finished discussing the general provisions related to traffic rules, and future meetings will concentrate on procedural regulations and aspects connected to the criminal justice system.

Lei quoted government officials as reaffirming their commitment to soliciting opinions from legislators and the public, refining provisions and technical details to ensure a balanced consideration of all stakeholders’ views. The government noted that, as quoted by Lei, in establishing the legal framework, it will fully consider Macau’s specific conditions and social feedback.

According to her, the meeting continued the discussion from the previous session, focusing on the practical aspects of pedestrian traffic.

During the meeting, some legislators expressed concerns about enforcement in various scenarios, particularly regarding pedestrians needing to be aware of vehicle speed and distance to cross safely and quickly.

Other issues raised included traffic planning and recommendations for how the traffic department should establish crosswalks and other crossing facilities.

Another section addresses traffic rules, including some environmental regulations focused on issues like air pollution, emissions, oil spills, and noise pollution. Lei noted that while current laws contain relevant provisions, the new text aims to clarify these regulations.

In addition to the existing ban on vehicle noise, it introduces a prohibition on excessive or repeated acceleration of motor vehicles without reasonable cause, particularly when starting or in neutral, akin to revving the engine.

The government stated that aspects such as exhaust emissions and volume will be regulated by separate standards to ensure proper operation, according to Lei.