PM Convenes National Road Safety Council Meeting

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller held a meeting yesterday morning with the National Road Safety Council committee to discuss a range of issues including: crash statistics and the traffic environment, the traffic ticketing system, the traffic ticket amnesty, the Island Traffic Authority, the draft Road Traffic Bill; electronic surveillance; the emergency response system and the road safety programmes of the Ministry of Education.

Mrs. Simpson Miller, who chaired the meeting at Jamaica House, noted the report on the crash statistics which informed of a reduction in road fatalities for the period January to August this year when compared to the same period last year.  The Prime Minister, however, noted the spike in fatalities among motorcyclists and mandated that this area be given special focus.

The Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Omar Davies and Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting, were instructed by the PM to give special attention to the traffic ticketing system in order to improve its efficiency and streamlining.

In relation to the draft Road Traffic Bill which was given special focus, Prime Minister Simpson Miller expressed the desire to see the fast tracking of the amended Bill but noted that there needs to be a greater involvement of the different arms of Government in relation to their contribution.  As a result, more time was given for the Attorney General’s office and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to make their input before the bill is sent back to the Legislative Committee of Cabinet.

The Prime Minister charged members of the committee to be quick and efficient in executing their tasks noting that the areas discussed are critical and in need of urgent and consistent attention.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Health; Transport, Works and Housing; National Security; Local Government and Community Development and Education; the National Road Safety Council; the Island Traffic Authority; the Road Safety Unit; the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Prime Minister.

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