Benin: 14 Behaviors Now Classified as Road Offenses, Says CNSR

Benin’s Parliament adopted Law No. 2026-18, the new Road Code, on October 26, and the National Road Safety Center (CNSR) welcomed the reform. The law classifies 14 serious behaviors as road offenses, including driving with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.8 g/l, driving under the influence of drugs, speeding by at least 50 km/h, driving without a license or insurance, and hit-and-run. It provides for tougher checks, immediate license withdrawal in serious cases, mandatory safety equipment, and greater protection for pedestrians and people assisting victims. Road-safety education is also to be introduced in schools and universities; the WHO estimates that around 3,200 people die in road crashes in Benin each year.