My fellow Jamaicans,
As of February 1, 2023, we will begin the phased implementation of the new The Road Traffic Act, 2018 and the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022.
This new law aims to, among other things, better regulate the use of our roads while at the same time ensure safety of motorists, pedestrians, and other road users.
Overall, the new law is aimed at ensuring that Jamaicans and visitors ARRIVE ALIVE.
I want to emphasize that this law is not about collecting revenue from more tickets or punishing motorists.
This law is aimed at promoting a new culture of safety as we travers our nation’s streets.
Most Jamaicans who receive traffic tickets pay them, in fact over 70 percent pay them in the prescribed time.
However, there are still individuals who have unresolved traffic tickets.
As at December 2022 there were 45 Jamaicans driving around with over 500 outstanding traffic tickets and 1,173 others each have between 100 and 499 outstanding tickets. This should have never been the case and this Government is taking steps to ensure that the current situation does not continue.
The Government has listened to its stakeholders and has moved to void over 1 million traffic tickets issued before February 1, 2018, and to remove all demerit points assigned as at January 31, 2023 to allow us to start the system a fresh.
The new act will be supported by an enhanced digital traffic ticket management system that will make it easier for law enforcement to issue tickets for traffic offenses.
This enhanced system will make it easier for drivers to keep track of their tickets and pay them in a timely manner.
Motorist will now have 30 days to pay their tickets which is more time that the 21 days in the previous law.
Additionally, the act will require drivers to always have a valid driver’s license on them while operating a vehicle. This will not only make it easier for law enforcement to detect and punish those who are driving without a license, but it will also help to ensure that only qualified drivers are on the road.
The act also includes several other provisions to increase safety on the roads.
It will be an offense to use a handheld device while driving.
Increased penalties for failing to obey traffic signals, loud noises within silence zones, failing to wear a protective helmet and failing to stop at pedestrian crossings.
Motorcycle crashes are the single largest cause of fatalities on our roads, amounting for approximately 30% of all deaths over the last two years.
Under the new law, Motorcyclists must undergo proper training and certification before they are allowed to ride on the country’s roads
Operating motorcycles with only a learner’s permit will no longer be permitted.
A motorcyclist must have his protective helmet and noise levels from bikes should be kept within the set limit.
The Police will be working with our motorcyclists over the next three months to ensure compliance.
The act will also have an updated demerit system, which will allow for the Island Traffic Authority to suspend a drivers’ licence upon the accumulation of a set number of demerit points.
On the other hand, good driving will be rewarded. If after 15 months, a driver has accumulated demerit points that are less than those required for a suspension of the licence, then the points will expire, and the record cleared.
Owners of motor vehicles will no longer be able to avoid the responsibility of ensuring that their motor vehicles are being operated by responsible persons who adhere to public order on our roads.
Owners will now be held liable in relation to infractions of their motor cars.
We expect to roll out electronic monitoring and enforcement this year and will utilise assets like Jamaica Eye to assist us in maintaining order on our roads.
750 electronic traffic ticket system handheld devices and printers have been procured and are being distributed island wide and will be operational come February 1.
I want to encourage all motorists, to continue to clear any outstanding tickets you may have after January 31, 2023.
As is customary, the Courts will adjudicate on matters that have missed their assigned court date.
Email your outstanding ticket results to customerservice@cad.gov.jm and where the courts have implemented a system to assist.
The Government has heard the cries of many Jamaicans who have been the victims of reckless drivers on our roads, under this new law we will restore rule of law, order and decency on our roads.
We urge compliance, and we ask all law-abiding citizens to support this new initiative which is aimed at protecting us all
God bless you and have a safe journey.