More than 2,000 drivers in the country have three or more major offences

Sherab Lhamo

Starting today, Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) will implement the Automated Demerit Point System for major traffic offences.

Demerit Point System is a system to account for major offence. An official from BCTA said this system will undertake action based on the offence record.

This shift from manual to digital management of traffic violations aims to enhance fairness, transparency, and accountability among drivers, while promoting road safety.

According to an official from BCTA, the previous manual method of assigning demerit points often led to inconsistencies due to reliance on the decisions of committee members. “The automated system is expected to address these shortcomings by ensuring uniform application of penalties across the board.”

Between July 2023 and June 2024, BCTA recorded 25,793 traffic violations across 164 different categories. Thimphu accounted for the majority of these offences, with 61.8 percent of the cases, followed by Phuentsholing at 12.7 percent.

Among the most frequently reported violations were driving under the influence of alcohol, which accounted for 3,459 cases, followed by speeding with 2,954 cases, unlicensed driving with 2,827 cases, parking violations with 2,617 cases, and the use of mobile phones while driving with 1,614 cases.

Major traffic offences include reckless driving leading to death or permanent disability, driving resulting in damage of private or public property, hit-and-run, carrying excess load, over speeding, entering a one-way traffic in the wrong direction, using hand-held devices while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed driving and driving under influence of psychotropic substances.

For ordinary license holders, a first offence of driving under the influence of alcohol will result in a penalty of 35 units, equivalent to Nu 1,750. Repeat offences will attract additional demerit points, higher fines, and ultimately, suspension or cancellation of the driver’s license for repeated violations.

For professional drivers, the system allows up to four offences before their license is cancelled, with fines and demerit points increasing incrementally.

In their first offence, they will have to pay a penalty fee of 35 units including one demerit point. In the second offence, they have to pay 35 units, including one additional demerit point on driving licence. For the third offense, the driver’s driving license will be suspended for six months, along with a penalty fee of 35 units (Nu 1,750). For the fourth offence, the driver’s license will be cancelled, along with a penalty fee of 35 units.

There are currently more than 2,000 drivers in the country with three or more major offences, according to BCTA. Under the new system, these drivers risk having their licenses cancelled.

However, only offenses committed from January 1, 2025, will be considered under the automated system, with prior offences recorded solely for disciplinary purposes.