🚨 SL Road Safety & Drug Testing: New Laws Headed to Parliament 📈

The Cabinet has approved two key proposals under the Motor Vehicles Act aimed at enhancing road safety and curbing driver impairment, which will now be submitted to Parliament for approval. • Driver Drug Testing Formalized: • Motor Vehicle (Drug) Directive No. 1 of 2025 establishes a clear legal framework and testing threshold for narcotics. • Police are now empowered to refer drivers suspected of drug use to a Government medical officer, strengthening enforcement against impaired driving. • Mandatory Expressway Seat Belts: • The Motor Vehicles Directive (Expressway) No. 02 of 2011 has been amended. • It now mandates seat belt use for every passenger occupying any seat in vehicles travelling on expressways, addressing recent rising fatal accidents. • Implementation Note: The Government confirmed a renewed commitment to reducing accidents. Complaints regarding seatbelt shortages/soared prices were dismissed, citing a sufficient three-month lead time given to motorists and importers to comply.