Dr. Davies Pushes for New Road Traffic Act This Year

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, says he is working assiduously to ensure that the new Road Traffic Act is passed in 2013.

The amended Act will ensure that road safety issues are addressed according to 21st century requirements. It will, among other things, deal with the use of mobile phones while driving, and also cover the use of in-car devices such as DVD players.

“It’s an enormous document. It needs to be coordinated through (the various departments of government)… which are involved, and so there is an overlapping for which we need to ensure that there is a consistency. But my plan is to have that taken through Parliament and passed during this Parliamentary year,” Dr. Davis said.

He was addressing a handing-over ceremony for six road safety infomercials on Tuesday (January 8) at the Insurance Company of the West Indies’ (ICWI) head offices in New Kingston.

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The Transport Minister said once the new Act is passed, driving schools and instructors will be required to be certified by the Island Traffic Authority and adhere to an approved curriculum, which will address issues such as defensive driving. He noted that motorists, who are in breach, may also be required to attend courses.

The six road safety infomercials, which address a number of crucial issues affecting road safety in Jamaica, were handed-over to the Ministry of Transport by the ICWI.

The areas covered by the infomercials are: pedestrian safety; motorcycle safety; overtaking; speeding; tailgating; and safe driving on the whole.