Egerton Newman, president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), has revealed that more than 500 taxi operators had their public passenger vehicle licences suspended last year under the New Road Traffic Act. Newman expressed concern, noting that the Government's initiative to address outstanding tickets has resulted in anxiety among operators. The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) suspended 688 driver's licences in 2023, with 563 suspended for six months and 125 for a year. While the ITA did not categorise the suspended licences by vehicle operator type, Newman acknowledged the impact on the sector, urging taxi operators to adhere to road regulations.

Hundreds of taxi operators’ licences suspended last year

TODSS’ Newman says ‘we’re worried’ as penalties under new Road Traffic Act take effect

Jamaica Gleaner/6 Jan 2024/Sashana Small/Staff Reporter 

 

MORE THAN 500 taxi operators had their public passenger vehicle licences suspended last year under the New Road Traffic Act, president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS) Egerton Newman has disclosed.

It is an occurrence he said that has left the operators anxious.

“We’re worried because there’s a big thing now that the Government is doing well in terms of backlog of outstanding tickets and we know 75 per cent of those tickets were given in the KMTR (Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region),” he told The Gleaner.

The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) began suspension of driver’s licences in May last year, a month after the implementation of the new Road Traffic Act and Road Traffic Regulations.

Drivers who had amassed over 10 demerit points in recent years still faced the possibility of having their driver’s licences revoked, even if they had gone to traffic court and paid their fines.

Data obtained by The Gleaner from the ITA showed that 688 driver’s licences were suspended last year, with 563 being suspended for six months, while 125 were suspended for a year.

The agency, however, was not able say how many of those revoked licences belonged to public transport operators as it does not currently categorise licence suspensions by the type of vehicle operator.

Under the new Road Traffic Act, drivers who have accumulated 10-13 demerit points will have their licences suspended for six months; 14-19 demerit points will result in a one-year suspension; and 20 demerit points and over will result in a two-year suspension.

And while he acknowledges that the revocation of licences has had an impact on the sector which he says employs more than 33,000 Jamaicans, Newman is also urging taxi operators to obey the road code.

“Some of them are downright unruly on our roads, breaking stoplights in all manner of places, and we are saying to them listen, 2024 ... we are going to be working in conjunction with the transport authority so that these drivers are brought to book. We cannot continue to bear names for a few bad eggs, especially in the KMTR. This kind of fender bendering of our taxi men has to stop,” he said.

TARGETED OPERATIONS

And while it could not provide data on the number of motorists driving with suspended licences, the ITA said it has collaborated with the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) on targeted operations to identify and apprehend drivers with suspended licences.

It said checkpoints, roadblocks, and mobile patrols are used to verify driver’s licences and vehicle fitness.

Additionally, the agency says it shares data on suspended licences with the Tax Administration Jamaica and PSTEB. This allows for cross-checking during vehicle renewal, permit requests, and traffic stops, increasing the chances of detection.

It also conducts public awareness campaigns to educate drivers about the demerit point system, the consequences of driving with a suspended licence, and the importance of road safety to foster responsible driving behaviour and increase public compliance.

“While these measures are in place, challenges remain. Limited resources, manpower constraints, and potential for corruption hinder full effectiveness. Nonetheless, the ITA’s multi-pronged approach represents a significant effort to limit the number of drivers operating illegally and improve road safety in Jamaica,” it said.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Dr Lucien Jones, told The Gleaner on Thursday that the new Road Traffic Act, along with an improved electronic ticketing system, has assisted in changing behaviour on the nation’s roads. This, he said, had resulted in a reduction in road deaths last year; there were 425 road fatalities in 2022, compared to 487 the previous year.

“The fact that the ticketing system is working more efficiently means that you can accumulate demerits points now on your licence, and the licence can be suspended. So the fear of the increased fines, the fear of having your licence suspended because you accumulate demerit points if you continue to break the law and also to have a warrant issued for your address, those fears will change human behaviour,” he said.

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