CHAPTER 8

Motor Vehicle Act

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 Introduction
Definition
The Motor Vehicles Act is an Act of the
Parliament (Government) which regulates
all aspects of road transport vehicles.

The Act provides in detail the legislative

provisions regarding licensing of
drivers/conductors, registration of motor
vehicles, control of motor vehicles through
permits, special provisions relating to
state transport undertakings, traffic
regulation, insurance, liability, offences
and penalties, etc.
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 REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
 Necessity for registration

No vehicle can be driven unless it is registered and

the registration mark is displayed in the prescribed
manner.

The vehicle may be registered by the registering

authority in the State in which the owner has the
residence or business where the vehicle is
normally kept.

For this purpose the owner has to apply in the

prescribed form and also produce the vehicle
before the registering authority for verifications of
the particulars.
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 Contd. REGISTRATION OF…
 The registration certificate so issued in
any State is valid throughout the country.
The registration certificate thus issued is
valid for a period of fifteen years and can
be subsequently renewed for a period of
five years.

 When a motor vehicle registered in one

State is kept in another State for a period
exceeding twelve months, a new
registration mark has to be applied for and
obtained from the registering authority of
that State.
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 DRIVING LICENSE

No person can drive a motor vehicle in any public

place unless he holds the valid driving license.

For driving one should be at least eighteen years

of age. However, a motor cycle without gear may
be driven by a person after attaining the age of
sixteen years.

Any qualified person can apply for driving license

to the licensing authority having jurisdiction in
the area (i) in which he ordinarily resides or
carries on business or (ii) in which the school
from where he has received training in driving the
motor vehicle is situated.
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 Contd. DRIVING LIC…
 The driving license is issued only after
passing a test of competence to the
satisfaction of the licensing authority.

 The learner’s license can also be obtained

from the competent licensing authority.

 A learner’s license is effective for a period

of six months from the date of its issue
while a driving license issued or renewed
is
 (a) in the case of a transport vehicle, valid
for three years;
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 Contd. DRIVING LIC…
 (b) in all other cases,

(i) if the person obtaining or renewing the license is

not of forty years on the date of issue or renewal, is
effective for a period of twenty years or until the
person attains the age of forty years.

(ii) if the person obtaining or renewing the license is

already of forty years age, is effective for a period
of five years.

 However, every driving license continues to be

effective for a period of thirty days from its expiry
as given above.

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 The conductor of a stage carriage also is required
 Control of traffic
No vehicle can be driven at a public place at a
speed exceeding the maximum speed fixed for
the vehicle, which in no case can exceed the
maximum fixed for the vehicle by notification in
the official Gazette.

The vehicle whose unladen or laden weight is

more than the value specified in the certificate of
registration, cannot be driven at a public place.

For regulating the traffic, the State Government

or any authority authorized on this behalf may
erect traffic signs as specified in the Schedule. It
is the duty of every driver to obey the traffic
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signs.
 Contd. Control of traffic
The vehicle with left-hand control cannot be
driven unless it is equipped with a mechanical or
electrical signaling device of a prescribed nature
and in working order.

No vehicle or trailer is to be abandoned or kept in

rest on any public place in such a position or
condition as is likely to cause danger or undue
inconvenience to the passengers or other users
of the public place.

No driver of a two-wheeled motor cycle can carry

more than one person on the motor cycle.
Further, every person riding or driving on any
motor cycle has to wear a protective headgear of
9 prescribed description.
 Contd. Control of traffic
In case a vehicle is involved in accident, the
driver of the vehicle or other person incharge
of the vehicle should take all reasonable
steps to secure medical attendance for the
injured person.

And if necessary, convey him to the nearest

hospital (unless the injured person, or his
guardian in case of a minor desires
otherwise, or unless it is not practicable to do
so on account of mob fury)

And report the incident at the nearest police

station as soon as possible, in any case
10 within twenty four hours of the occurrence.
 Insurance against third party risks

No person can drive a vehicle in a public

place unless there is in force in relation to
the use of the vehicle by that person, a
policy of insurance against third party risk.
This, however, does not apply to government
vehicles unconnected with any commercial
purpose.

In case of transfer of ownership of the

vehicle to another person, the insurance
policy shall also be deemed to have been
transferred in favor of the person to whom
the vehicle is transferred with effect from
11 the date of its transfer.
 Contd. Insurance against…

However, the transferee has to apply to

the insurer within fourteen days from the
date of transfer for making necessary
changes in the certificate of insurance
which shall be done by the insurer.

The driver of a motor vehicle shall

produce the insurance certificate, on
demand by a police officer in uniform.
The certificate may however be produced
within seven days of the demand or any
12 accident.
 Miscellaneous Traffic Provisions
Fire apparatus
(1) It shall be an offence for the driver of a
vehicle other than one on official business to
follow any fire apparatus travelling in response
to a fire alarm closer than 150 meters or to
drive into or park the vehicle within 150 meters
of the place where fire apparatus has stopped
in answer to a fire alarm.

(2) No street car or vehicle shall be driven over

any unprotected hose of a fire department
when laid down on any street, private driveway
or street car track, to be used at any fire or
alarm of fire, without the consent of the fire
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marshal or fire department official in command.
 Contd. Miscellaneous…
Driving on sidewalk
(1) The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within
any sidewalk area except at a permanent or
temporary driveway.
(2) Snow clearance equipment may be driven
within any sidewalk area for the purpose of
clearing snow or ice.
Driving into procession
(1) No person shall drive a vehicle or street car
through or into a funeral procession or other
lawful procession.
(2) This Section shall not apply where traffic is
controlled by traffic control lights or peace
14 officers.
 Contd. Miscellaneous…
Riding on frame or clinging to moving vehicle

(1) It shall be an offence for a cyclist or the operator

of a motorcycle, when upon the street to carry any
other person upon the handlebar, frame or tank of
any such vehicle or side-saddle on any such vehicle,
or for any person to so ride upon any such vehicle.

(2) It shall be an offence for any person travelling

upon a bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, sled, roller
skates, skis, or any toy vehicle to cling to or attach
himself or his vehicle to any other moving vehicle or
street car upon a highway or for the driver of any
such moving vehicle or street car to allow or permit
any such person to cling to or attach himself or his
vehicle to said moving vehicle or street car.
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 Contd. Miscellaneous…
Prohibited conduct on or place to ride bicycle
(1) A cyclist shall not allow the same to proceed in a
highway by inertia momentum, with his feet removed
from the pedals, nor shall a cyclist remove both hands
from the handlebars while riding the bicycle nor
practice any trick or fancy riding on a highway.

(2) No person shall ride a bicycle, tricycle, or similar

machine on a sidewalk, provided, nothing in this
Section shall be deemed or construed to prevent the
use of velocipedes or similar machines by children on a
sidewalk in a public square, park, city or town.

(3) Where a roadway has a bicycle lane for bicycles

travelling in the same direction that a cyclist is
travelling, the cyclist shall ride in the bicycle lane
16 unless it is impracticable to do so.
 Contd. Miscellaneous…
Selling or soliciting on a roadway
(1) No person, while on a roadway, shall stop, attempt to stop
or approach a motor vehicle for the purpose of offering,
selling or providing any commodity or service to or soliciting
the driver or any other person in the motor vehicle.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the offer, sale or provision
of towing or repair services or any other commodity or service
in an emergency.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to fund-raising activities that

are

(a) permitted by a by-law of the municipality in which the

activities are conducted; and

(b) approved by the traffic authority responsible for the

17 roadway on which the activities are conducted.
 Contd. Miscellaneous…
Exemption for emergency vehicles
(1) a driver of an emergency vehicle may do
the following:
(a) exceed the speed limit;
(b) proceed past a red traffic control
signal or stop sign without stopping;
(c) disregard rules and traffic control
devices governing direction of
movement or turning in
specified directions;
(d) stop or stand.
(2) The driver of an emergency vehicle must not
exercise the privileges granted by subsection (1)
except in accordance with the regulations.
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 Contd. Miscellaneous…
(4) The driver of an emergency vehicle
exercising a privilege granted by subsection
(1) must drive with due regard for safety,
having regard to all the circumstances of the
case, including the following:

(a) the nature, condition and use of the

highway;

(b) the amount of traffic that is on, or might

reasonably be expected to be on, the highway;

(c) the nature of the use being made of the

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emergency vehicle at the time.
 Contd. Miscellaneous…
Police traffic direction
 If a peace officer reasonably considers it
necessary to

(a) ensure orderly movement of traffic,

(b) prevent injury or damage to persons or

property, or

(c) permit proper action in an emergency,

the peace officer may direct traffic according
to his or her discretion, despite anything in this
Part, and everyone must obey his or her
20 directions.
 Regulation of transport in Ethiopia
Duty to have Vehicles Registered

(1) No vehicle, except special mobile equipment with

a maximum speed of less than 20 km per hour, shall
be driven or operated on any road unless said vehicle:
a) has been registered in accordance with
regulations and directives issued here under; and
b) bears the appropriate plates or other identification
marks.

(2) The absence of the appropriate registration plates

or other identification marks shall constitute prima
facie evidence that the vehicle has not been
registered and the police may detain said vehicle
pending the making of appropriate inquiries.
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 Requirement of holding a driving license

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 Requirement of Permit for Seafarers and Train
Operators

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 Reference
 For further information refer the proclamation
attached you.

PROCLAMATION NO. 468/2005.

A PROCLAMATION TO PROVIDE
FOR THE REGULATION OF
TRANSPRT

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 Insurance Policy Against third Party Risks

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 Contd. Insurance Policy…

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 Restrictions on the Scope of Application of
Insurance Policy

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 Conditions of Insurance Policy

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 Exclusions From Insurance Policy coverage

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 Contd. Exclusions From…

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 Certificate of insurance

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 Contd. Certificate of…

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 Contd. Certificate of…

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 Reference
For further information refer the
proclamation attached you.

PROCLAMATION No.
799/2013

 A PROCLAMATION TO PROVIDE FOR

VEHICLE INSURANCE AGAINST THIRD
PARTY RISKS

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