Key areas identified for amendment under the Highway Traffic Act and its regulations | News

The comprehensive review of the Highway Code 2018 and Road Traffic Regulations 2022, currently underway, has identified several key considerations for change.

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, in providing details at today's (June 26) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said the areas to modify include the renewal of driver's licenses for people aged 70 and over.

It is proposed to change the process to require the presentation of a medical certificate proving that a person is fit to drive.

“An additional form will be introduced and the current form will be retained by the doctor as a guide on the matters to be considered in determining the question of fitness,” the minister said.

It is also proposed to adjust the applicable fees to be lower than the amount charged for a five-year renewal. This amount will depend on the lifespan of the elderly driver's license.

Additionally, school zones will be implemented with modifications to indicate where they begin and end. Provision will be made for a pedestrian crossing and adequate signage.

A full review of demerit points will be undertaken in relation to fines and demerit penalties under the Road Traffic Act and regulations by the Public Transport Operators Steering Committee.

“The recommendations are being considered by the ministry with a view to being presented to Cabinet as soon as possible. We have set a deadline for June 30,” Vaz said.

Regarding traffic violations that cause accidents, deaths and disturbances on public roads, the minister said demerit points will be imposed for such violations.

For static and stationary violations, such as defective headlights, consideration is being given to removing demerit points for these violations.

“Demerit points for non-moving offenses will put drivers at risk of obtaining enough demerit points to lose their license in a short period of time, which is not the intention. The objective is to guarantee the safety of the roads and to enforce discipline,” underlined the minister.

He noted that under the current demerit point system, 23,243 licenses would currently be eligible for suspension. Of this amount, 11,193 are intended for people holding a public vehicle permit (PPV).

“This figure reflects people who have the PPV written on their driving license but are not necessarily operators in the public transport sector, meaning it may be lower. So we will look into that,” he said.

Regarding the provisions regarding the use of electronic devices while driving, Vaz noted that “there is a lot of ambiguity and complaints around this offense. The revision of the law aims to remove the ambiguous nature of the offense. We will seek to be more definitive on this.”

– JIS News

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