Road safety – Alain Jeannot: “Repression is useful”

A week after the entry into force of the points license, the first sanctions are already falling on Mauritian roads. Truly dissuasive measure or fleeting fear of drivers? Alain Jeannot, president of the National Road Safety Council and the NGO PRAT, analyzes the issues and calls for a global approach to road safety.

Almost a week after the launch of the points license, how do you analyze the first fines? It is too early to draw up a precise assessment. Personally, I notice that many drivers seem more cautious, especially when they fear being caught in violation.

The press reports that, during the weekend, 15 drivers tested positive for alcohol and four for drugs. These numbers could indicate a slight decline, but you would need to know the sample and the number of vehicles on the road. Overall, there is clearly some fear.

Some motorists believe they were “taken by surprise” by the device. Was the points license sufficiently explained? Not really “taken by surprise”, because the project has been on the table for more than a year. It dates back to the last election. Communication was good, but it could have been better. I nevertheless thank the media for their role in the popularization and appropriation of this system by the public.

Is the rapid increase in fines necessary to establish the authority of the system, or does it risk causing rejection? Repression is useful, but it must be accompanied by education, awareness and exemplary behavior. Without it, it becomes a source of frustration and creates stressed and unhappy drivers. “We need to educate; we need to walk the talk! ".

What types of offenses are the most frequent since the entry into force of the points license? I do not yet have the precise data, but excessive speed remains a major problem. By 2024, more than 72,000 drivers had been penalized for this behavior, or one ticket every seven minutes. This is unacceptable. This proves that excessive speed is valued, even trivialized! The points license should help to correct this.

Can the points license really reduce accidents in the long term? Yes, but only in a suitable environment. Without investment in infrastructure and road equipment, the permit loses its credibility. I have seen signs at Résidence Plaisance and Mount Pleasant, but there is still a lot to do. Infrastructure must inspire respect and support the system.

Awareness is also essential, it enlightens, protects and prevents frustration. We must also fight against accessibility to narcotics, and new license applicants should be screened.

What place for road education and prevention? A central place. Exemplarity is key: we cannot teach