DIRECTOR of the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Mining Kenute Hare says the new Road Safety Act better empowers the Island Traffic Authority in ensuring safety on the roadways in order to reduce injuries and deaths from crashes.
He said the authority will be able to suspend driver’s licences for various violations.
“So if people accumulate between 10 and 13 points, their driver’s licence will be suspended for six months; 14 to 19 points, the driver’s licence will be suspended for one year; and for 20 and over points, the driver’s licence will be suspended for two years.
“That was something the Island Traffic Authority wasn’t able to execute prior to this,” he noted.
Under the new legislation, the functions of the Island Traffic Authority include, among other things, development and implementation of traffic-calming measures; testing of applicants for learner’s permits and driver’s licences; licensing and registering of motor vehicles; licensing and regulation of driving instructors and driving schools; and the setting of minimum standards for the operation of driving instructors and driving schools.
Hare, in welcoming the legislation, says it allows Jamaica to align its road safety operations in accordance with 21st century standards and the United Nations (UN) best practices for member states, in order to stem the tide of traffic crashes.
“I believe that this new Act is very timely, especially as we approach the end of the Decade of Action for Road Safety, which is from 2011 to 2020. We have been able to achieve some things, but this new Road Traffic Act is a very good step in the right direction, as our systems now will be much better aligned and will bring us up to speed to the changes that have been occurring with motor vehicles technologically,” he said.
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