Road Safety: 'Road Rage' Soon to be Criminalized
Title: Road Safety: 'Road Rage' Soon to be Criminalized
Content: Aggressive drivers may soon face legal action in Mauritius. The Cabinet has approved the inclusion of road rage incidents in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, with instructions sent to the Attorney General's office regarding this matter.
Additionally, the government plans to conduct a national survey on road civility, led by the Ministry of Land Transport in collaboration with Cerebro Ltd and Etiquette Africa, a pan-African organization dedicated to promoting respect in public spaces. The study aims to assess the perceived level of civility on the roads, identify key friction points among users—drivers, pedestrians, and public transport users—and analyze behaviors in critical situations, especially during accidents. The findings will help shape awareness campaigns, refine certain public policies, and guide road infrastructure planning.
According to Alain Jeannot, president of the organization Prévention routière avant tout (Prat), the phenomenon is relatively new but is growing. He cites a recent incident in Tyack, widely shared on social media, where a driver blocked traffic to confront another motorist. "Since the 1980s, we have seen a significant increase in the number of vehicles. Today, many households have two to three cars. With traffic jams, impatience, and daily pressure, conflicts arise more easily," he explains.
He believes education is central to the problem. "It's all about education. The ministry is right to want to take action because many incidents are not even reported to the police," he emphasizes. He advocates for comprehensive training in respect and civility values to accompany the driving license: "The driving license should come with a genuine civics certificate. Before getting behind the wheel, every driver should demonstrate that they understand the rules of respect and behavior on the road."
Alain Jeannot also warns against the risks of escalation. "Today, some too easily choose confrontation to resolve a problem on the road. But these behaviors can quickly escalate and endanger the lives of others," he warns. While he welcomes the legislative initiative, he insists on one essential condition for its effectiveness: "It’s good to change the law, but it must also be enforced rigorously."