Mandatory driving school proposed before licensing amid crash spike

In response to the recent surge in road traffic accidents across the country, the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Transport, Chester Williams, has announced that the government is preparing to introduce a new policy that would make driving school attendance mandatory before a person can qualify for a driver’s license.  Williams explained that the proposal comes as part of a wider national effort to curb reckless driving, reduce fatalities, and improve road safety. He noted that investigations into many of the recent crashes reveal a common issue, a lack of proper driver education and awareness of road rules. Under the new system, applicants for a driver’s license would be required to complete a certified driving program and pass both theoretical and practical assessments before being approved.

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport: “The laws governing the use of motorcycles must come to an end. I think that that is what has us where we are right now. I can say that we took over a broken system, right? And myself and my minister Dr. Zabaneh, we’re doing our best to fix the broken system that we took over. And we’re hoping that with the assistance of the people we should be able to do so. I must say that we are getting great support from cabinet in pushing the laws and changes that we want to put in place. But we’re looking at driving school, where persons can go and take lessons in the maneuvering of motorcycles and the laws governing use of motorcycles. And in presenting your application for a motorcycle license you would have to present with that application a certificate from the institutions that will be providing the training, it can be ITVET and any other institution that are so certified certifying you in the handling of motorcycles and the laws that governs the use of motorcycles. So that is a very good feature we believe is going to help to alleviate some of these issues that we’re seeing on our highways.”

The Transport CEO emphasized that the Ministry is working in collaboration with the Belize Police Department, municipal traffic bodies, and certified driving instructors to develop a standardized curriculum that focuses on road safety, defensive driving, and vehicle maintenance.