Dhaka:The government has revised the Road Transport Rules, 2022, mandating the installation and display of number plates on the front of motorcycles. This amendment, announced by the Road Transport and Highways Division, took effect immediately following a notification issued on November 1.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the new rules permit changes to the design, dimensions, character height, and layout of the front number plates. These adjustments cater to the unique structure of each motorcycle, enabling the implementation of appropriate measures for front number plate installation.
The updated regulations allow for the registration number on the front of a motorcycle to be shown in either a conventional format or a single-line layout. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has been authorized to specify the front number plates' specifications, ensuring they align with the design and structure of the motorcycle.
The BRTA may also determine the height and size of characters, as well as the spacing and use of hyphens, on the front number plates. Retro-reflective plates are also incorporated into the regulations to enhance visibility and identification.
Experts highlight the importance of front-mounted number plates in monitoring motorcycles, especially as their numbers increase across urban and highway areas. The regulations aim to address the challenges posed by varying motorcycle designs, allowing for customized number plate configurations.
Integrating technology into traffic management, such as CCTV and automated number plate recognition systems, is also a priority. This could significantly improve the identification of motorcycles by their front-installed plates.
The amendments empower the BRTA to take immediate action to determine the design and layout of front number plates for motorcycles. An official from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways emphasized the necessity of including motorcycles in camera-based monitoring to restore road discipline.