27 Students at Titchfield High Pass Road Code Test

Twenty-seven students at the Titchfield High School in Portland have passed the road code test, which was administered by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) at the school on February 6.

Through the ITA’s Learner Driver Education Programme, 33 students sat the test to determine whether they will be eligible for a learner’s permit.

The 27 who have passed, will be issued with sealed envelopes to take to the offices of Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) where they will pay the $1,800 to acquire their learner’s permit.

Corporate Communications and Public Relations Manager at the ITA, Dontae Matthews, told JIS News that, “the learner’s permit becomes valid when they receive it at the tax office, and it lasts for a year. They will now be able to begin driving lessons under the supervision of a licensed driver”.

Mr. Matthews added that pursuant to the Road Traffic Act, if the licensed driver requires a fee or payment for the driving lessons, they must be certified by the ITA, or their driving school must be licensed by the entity.
Titchfield High is the first school in Eastern Jamaica to benefit from the Learner Driver Education Programme.

Speaking during the launch of the programme recently, Director General of the ITA, Colonel Daniel Pryce, reminded the youngsters that, “a learner’s permit is not permission to drive freely. It is a controlled privilege designed to protect you and every other road user”.

He informed that, “a learner driver must display the required ‘L’ identification, so other road users know that you are learning to drive. Learner drivers must obey all traffic laws, including speed limits, seat belt requirements, and traffic signals”.

Colonel Pryce added that the learner’s permit is an important step in the eventual acquisition of a driver’s licence, ensuring that the students gain proper training, knowledge, and judgment before becoming a fully licensed driver.

“In other words, the law recognises that learning to drive is a serious process, and it must be treated as such,” he said.

He urged the students to be vigilant in their use of the road and to listen carefully to their instructor.

“Stay focused on the road and understand that every action behind the wheel carries consequence,” the Director General urged.