When we last covered this, the new road traffic measures were still proposals. They are now law.

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2026 was passed by the National Assembly on 1 September 2026, and most of its provisions came into force at midnight on 29 September. Land Transport Minister Osman Mahomed set out the details at a press conference in Port Louis the day before.

Not everything applies yet. Some measures are live now, others follow later. Here is what you need to know, in plain terms.

What is in force now

Road rage is now a criminal offence

For the first time, aggressive behaviour on the road is a specific offence. It covers:

• insulting, threatening or assaulting another road user

• using a weapon intended to harm someone

• climbing on, or trying to force open, another person's vehicle

• damaging, or trying to damage, someone else's vehicle

• deliberately blocking traffic

It applies to everyone on the road, not just drivers. Riders, cyclists, passengers and pedestrians can all be charged. The penalty is a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 and up to 12 months in prison.

Handheld phones

Using a handheld phone or any other interactive device while driving or cycling is now clearly an offence. The fine is Rs 3,000, and it also carries between 5 and 10 penalty points on your licence.

If you need a refresher on how points build up, see our guide to the penalty points system in Mauritius.

Driving under the influence

Drink and drug driving now carries some of the toughest penalties in the Act, whether or not anyone is hurt. Anyone convicted of driving or cycling under the influence of alcohol, drugs or another intoxicating substance, including on a motorcycle, faces:

• Licence suspension: a minimum of two months and a maximum of six months

• First conviction: Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 and up to five years in prison

• Second conviction: Rs 500,000 to Rs 1 million, 12 months to eight years in prison, and a ban on holding or obtaining a driving licence in Mauritius for at least five years

Causing a death on the road

Two offences involving a death on the road also carry heavy penalties.

Causing death without a valid licence is a brand-new offence. The fines for causing death by dangerous driving have doubled.

Racing, failing to stop and noisy exhausts

• Unauthorised road racing or speed trials: Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000

• Failing to stop when ordered by a police officer: Rs 25,000 to Rs 100,000

• Driving with a modified silencer that makes the exhaust louder: up to Rs 10,000

What is coming later

Vehicle seizure

Police will be able to seize a vehicle and take it to a place of safety when someone is driving or cycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This power is not yet in force.

When it arrives, getting your vehicle back will cost you:

• Rs 5,000 application fee

• Rs 10,000 release fee

• Rs 2,000 for every 24 hours in storage

• towing costs, where applicable

Vehicles left unclaimed for three months can be sold by the police. Removing the seals from, or damaging, a seized vehicle carries a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 and up to two years in prison.

The seizure applies to the vehicle, whoever owns it. Rental companies will need to agree with customers in advance who is responsible if a hire car is seized, and employers are expected to do the same with staff who drive company vehicles.

Safe City cameras

Using Safe City cameras to detect traffic offences will be introduced at a later stage, through provisions in the Finance Bill.

Your licence and your fines are going digital

From January 2027, you must carry either your original driving licence or your Digital Driving Licence (DDL). Photocopies will no longer be accepted.

The government has asked motorists to check now that their DDL details are showing correctly in the KOREK! app.

Online payment of fines is due to launch on 30 October 2026. It will cover fixed penalties that do not carry penalty points.

The bottom line

This is the biggest shake-up of Mauritian traffic law in years. The fines are larger, prison is on the table for more offences, and the consequences now extend to pedestrians, passengers and cyclists as well as drivers.

If you drive a company car or regularly rent a vehicle, now is a good time to check what your agreement says about fines and seizure. And whatever you drive, knowing the rules is the cheapest insurance there is.

For more practical guides on driving, buying and owning a vehicle in Mauritius, visit AutoCloud.mu.