Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act 2009 · As enacted
47. Amendment of section 155 of the principal enactment
Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.
Official translationFrom Department of Government Printing, unchanged
Section 155 of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows :—
in subsection (1) of that section, by the substitution for the words “efficient instrument” of the words
“efficient warning instrument”;
by the re-numbering of subsections (2), (3) and (4)
of that section as subsections (4), (5) and (6)
thereof ;
by the insertion, immediately after subsection (1)
thereof, of the following subsections which shall have effect as subsections (2) and (3) thereof :—
“(2) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the driver of a motor vehicle shall not use, or cause or permit to be used the warning instrument of such vehicle except –
when necessary as a traffic warning to avoid an accident ; or
as an indication of his intention to overtake another vehicle, provided however, that at night, such driver may flash the head lights for such purpose and also sound a warning instrument .
No person shall use a motor vehicle that has been equipped with a multi-tone horn sounding a succession of different notes, or with any other sound producing device giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise :
Provided that such a multi-tone horn or other sound producing device may be fitted or used –
on a vehicle used by the fire brigade ;
on a vehicle used by members of the police or armed services ; or
on an ambulance responding to an emergency call. ”;
in the renumbered subsection (4) thereof, by the substitution for the words “ highway within the limits of an urban area.” of the word “road.”.
by the repeal of the renumbered subsection (5) of that section and the substitution of the following subsection therefor :—
“(5) Regulations may be made—
prohibiting or restricting for the purposes of this section the use of all warning instruments or any specified instrument in any area or part thereof during any specified hours of the day ;
prescribing the maximum noise level that may emanate from a vehicle whether from the engine, the exhaust device or the horn;
prescribing the maximum noise level that is permissible for any class or classes of vehicles with regard to a warning device or reverse warning device or any amplifying devices fitted on such class or classes of vehicles.”;
in the re-numbered subsection (6) of that section by the substitution, for the word and figure
“subsection (3),” of the word and figure
“subsection (5).”;
by the insertion, immediately after the re-numbered subsection (6) of that section, of the following subsection which shall have effect as subsection (7) thereof:—
“(7) Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not less than three thousand rupees and not exceeding five thousand rupees and to the confiscation of such instruments.”.