The new 15-point demerit system for driving licences has come under criticism from ACT Wazalendo, which says the rules could expose thousands of commercial drivers to job losses while holding them accountable for faults beyond their control.
The opposition party wants the Government to suspend implementation of the system, which began this month, and review it with drivers and other stakeholders before enforcing it further.
ACT Wazalendo argues that while tougher enforcement is necessary to improve road safety, the current framework places an unequal burden on drivers by treating some responsibilities of vehicle owners and the Government as drivers’ offences.
The demerit system, established under the Road Traffic Act, was introduced through regulations in 2014 and amended and republished under Government Notice No. 420 of July 11, 2025.
Under the system, every driving licence starts with 15 points. Depending on the offence, a driver can lose one or three points. The regulations list 35 offences that can attract demerit points.
They include driving an unregistered vehicle or trailer, driving below the prescribed speed, carrying goods in a passenger vehicle, improper use of a horn, stopping on pedestrian walkways, driving an uninsured vehicle and failing to obey traffic signs and regulations.
ACT Wazalendo says the central problem is that not all these offences are within a driver's control.
The party says vehicle insurance, tyres and maintenance are primarily the responsibility of vehicle owners, while missing traffic signs, damaged roads and malfunctioning traffic lights involve public authorities.
This distinction is particularly important for commercial drivers, who spend long hours on the country's roads and depend on their licences for their livelihoods.
ACT Wazalendo says applying the same 15-point threshold to a driver covering hundreds of kilometres daily and a private motorist who drives only occasionally fails to recognise the different levels of exposure to traffic enforcement.
“The 15 points are few and do not take into account differences between categories of drivers,” the party said, arguing that commercial drivers could accumulate points faster simply because they spend more time on the road.
The party has also questioned the absence of an effective mechanism allowing drivers to challenge a point deduction before it takes effect.
It says the current system gives a police officer or electronic enforcement system the power to deduct points immediately, without first giving the driver an opportunity to explain or appeal the decision.
For drivers, the concern goes beyond the loss of points. Accumulating enough penalties could ultimately affect their ability to continue driving and, for commercial motorists, threaten their source of income.
ACT Wazalendo has also raised concerns over what it describes as double punishment, saying drivers can lose points and pay a fine for the same traffic offence.
The party wants the system to focus not only on punishment but also on correcting driving behaviour.
It has proposed mechanisms through which motorists who lose points could undergo road-safety training or regain points after maintaining a clean driving record for a specified period.
Another issue is road signage. ACT Wazalendo says some speed-limit signs are missing, damaged or obscured by vegetation, potentially leaving motorists unclear about the applicable limit.
It argues that drivers should not be penalised for violations where road authorities have failed to provide clear and visible information.
The party has also called for stronger safeguards against corruption and abuse, citing complaints from drivers over alleged fabricated offences, roadside ambushes and withholding of licences.
The concerns place the focus on a broader question: how can Tanzania strengthen road safety without making drivers bear responsibilities that belong to other actors?
ACT Wazalendo says the answer lies in clearly defining the obligations of drivers, vehicle owners and public authorities while ensuring that enforcement decisions can be challenged.
It has therefore called for the Government to suspend the current system, consult drivers and other stakeholders, review the 15-point threshold and establish stronger accountability and appeal mechanisms.
The party said road safety should remain the priority, but argued that enforcement must also protect drivers from unfair penalties and avoid unnecessarily putting their jobs at risk.