TAXI DRIVER TO OBTAIN PSV LICENCE AT THE AGE OF 20

Doricah Sakala
Road transport and safety agency acting director and CEO Alinani Msisya says the Road Traffic Amendment Act No. 8 of 2022 is now in force which has seen a revision of the age at which a taxi driver can obtain a Public Service License from 25 years to 20 years.
Mr. Msisya says this amendment addresses concerns from most taxi drivers that 25 years to obtain a PSV driving licence is too high and has had the effect of pushing most youths out of employment and will also help to reduce illegal taxi operations in Zambia
Mr. Msisya also says RSTA has also introduced a probationary driving licence which will be valid for the period of one year before a regular licence will be issued.
He says the rationale for a probationary driving license is to prevent the newly licensed drivers from driving very long distances upon being licensed to drive.
Mr. Msisya says the act has also introduced Demerit Point System that will result in automatic suspension of a driving licence where a driver exceeds a prescribed threshold of penalty points.
He says the Act has also made provision for speed limit tolerances for various speed limits and has also introduced a graduated system of speeding offences and fines.