Road Transport Traffic Control Regulation No. 557/2016 ************** ♦️Introduction In our country, traffic accidents are causing great damage to human life, body and property. For this reason, the lack of knowledge, experience and ethics of drivers, the technical level of vehicles, the quality of roads and the contribution of pedestrians are mentioned as reasons. In order to reduce this risk as much as possible, the legal framework should be adapted, so the Road Transport Traffic Control Council of Ministers Regulation No. 557/2016 has come into effect. This article briefly explores the general procedure for business turnover and the penalties for violations. Road Traffic General Procedure 🎯Driving carelessly Drivers are required to avoid carelessness and drive carefully while driving a vehicle. This is referred to in Article 5 of the regulation, and when drivers drive, regardless of the time and weather conditions, the technical ability of the vehicle, the type of road, and the amount of debris that is passed on the road, in schools, residential areas, market places, religious institutions, health institutions and other places where people are gathered or can be found on a regular basis or for various reasons, without care or at a speed that may cause harm to the public or the safety of others on the road. They should not drive carelessly without thinking and taking proper care, or without considering the speed change from high to low in the urban area or the transition zone and the traffic safety of the road users in the construction zone. 🎯 Mobile phone and video driving is an activity that requires special attention and caution. It is true that using a mobile phone and video while driving can distract drivers and put them at risk. As a result, it has been prohibited by the regulation, that is, any driver, except the driver of an emergency service vehicle, should not drive any vehicle while talking, writing, sending or reading a short text message while holding a mobile phone or radio, and any driver should not drive while watching television or other moving images in the vehicle, except for GPS navigation images. 🎯 Seat belt Wearing a seat belt is very important to reduce the risk and damage to human life and property. Therefore, according to article 7 of the regulation, it is prohibited for any driver to ride on the road without wearing a seat belt, except for a motorcycle. In addition, any driver who drives a vehicle other than a motorcycle is required to ensure that all occupants in the front and back seats of the vehicle are wearing seat belts, and any driver carrying a child under the age of seven in the vehicle is required to ensure that they are fastened with a child safety device in the back seat of the vehicle. In relation to this, it has been stipulated by decree that any motor vehicle imported or assembled or manufactured in the country must be equipped with safety belts, and drivers or passengers who cannot wear a safety belt due to health problems are obliged to carry their doctor's certificate and show it to the traffic controller whenever requested. 🎯 Regarding driving on the right side of the road, it is stipulated in Article 10 of the regulation that a driver must drive on the right side of the road, and under Article 2 of the regulation, the traffic controller can allow or force any driver to drive on the left side of the road when he finds it mandatory for the flow of traffic. Prohibition to drive a vehicle Technical condition of vehicles is cited as a reason for traffic accidents, and to prevent this, in Article 9 of the regulation, any driver: - If the operation, materials and condition are not determined by the vehicle operation law, he has an annual inspection and his technical competence is not confirmed. A vehicle that spews smoke, steam, oil or fuel and causes damage or disturbance to other people and the environment or that makes noise beyond the legal limit due to improper maintenance or technical condition or installation defects shall not be driven. It is also a rule that one should not drive while making excessive noise or listening to headphones. 🎯 About driving in difficult visibility conditions, according to Article 11 of the rules, it is stipulated that any driver is not allowed to change the single lane and cross to another lane when he is faced with a situation that disturbs his vision or when he is unable to see for a certain distance. Road use precautions In addition to drivers, other road users also have their own responsibility to reduce traffic accidents. That is, according to Article 8 of the regulation, it is stipulated that any person using the road should  be careful not to cause any damage to life or property  not be an obstacle to traffic and  should not perform economic, social and other activities on the road for vehicles or pedestrians unless authorized by the relevant body. In addition, according to article 79 of the regulation, pedestrians are not allowed to cross the road unless there is a sidewalk or to cross the road. 🎯 Penalty Road Transport Traffic Control Council of Ministers has listed the offenses committed by drivers and has set standards for the offences. Minor offences, such as towing a vehicle illegally, riding a bicycle without wearing a helmet, driving a commercial vehicle without a full first aid kit and fire extinguisher, driving illegally while carrying explosives or explosives, giving money to beggars at a traffic light or intersection, driving with a child under the age of 13 on the driver's side. It has been decided that a fine of 500 Birr will be imposed on him. Offenses placed on the second level are intermediate level offenses, which include driving without a complete load carrier, improper use of the horn, washing and washing vehicles on the road, stopping vehicles in prohibited places and conditions, driving while making excessive noise or listening with headphones, spraying water on pedestrians; If it is a first-time offense such as denying priority to pedestrians, 2 points will be recorded for the offense and a fine of up to 1,000 Birr will be imposed. Another third-degree offense is a serious misdemeanor, which includes driving without maintaining a lane or lane; Carrying an extra person beyond the capacity of the vehicle, driving while talking or texting or reading messages while holding a mobile phone, loading a truck with a person other than what is allowed by law, driving without wearing a seat belt or without checking that passengers are wearing it, violating a red traffic light, driving in a prohibited road or direction, driving while drinking khat or taking intoxicants, and if this is the first offense, then the offense is It is stipulated in the regulation that 3 points will be recorded and a fine of up to 1,500 Birr will be imposed. However, if the driver fails for the second time or more, the penalty points will be added and the penalty will increase. Other offenses of a special level are set in this regulation, and these offenses are causing damage to human life, body and property by driving a vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving faster than the speed allowed by law, dumping soil, sand and similar objects on a vehicle or footpath without the permission of the concerned body, not stopping at the scene of injury or not taking the person injured and in need of treatment to medical treatment. It includes fines from 1,500 to 10,000 Birr and suspension from 6 months to 1 year and 6 months, depending on the lightness and severity of the offense and when the score of the offense is 8 to 21 points. The rule also includes other offenses usually committed by non-drivers, such as driving a push cart on the road without obtaining permission from the relevant authority, driving animals on the road, adding an inappropriate body to a vehicle or adding a seat other than an authorized seat, placing material or goods that disturb vehicles or pedestrians on a footpath or vehicle path without obtaining permission from the relevant authority, operating a business, pedestrian or vehicular traffic without a permit. It includes offenses such as driving a vehicle without a driver's license, performing repairs without receiving written evidence from the police stating the type of damage to the vehicle, and depending on the severity and severity of the offense, it is determined that a fine ranging from 100 to 20,000 Birr will be imposed. The rule also includes offenses committed by pedestrians, such as crossing the road without taking due care, stopping or traveling on a road allowed for vehicles without reason, traveling with the right edge of a road where there is no footpath, traveling outside a road marked for pedestrian traffic, jumping across roads fenced with metal or walls, crossing the road while listening to different sounds with headphones, crossing the road on a road marked as prohibited for pedestrians. Or crossing a ring road where pedestrians are not allowed to cross is punishable by a fine of 100 to 150 silver. Conclusion In general, drivers, pedestrians and other road users must fulfill their responsibilities in complying with traffic laws and reducing the risk to human life, limb and property, and protect themselves from liability for violating the law. @ Ministry of Justice of the E.F.D.R