Excessive speeding and reckless driving have been identified as the leading causes of road fatalities in Jamaica, with 87 deaths attributed to speeding this year alone. Despite a decline in overall road deaths, the lack of enforcement of electronic ticketing systems and challenges in contacting offenders pose significant obstacles to addressing these issues. The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is prioritising the implementation of electronic enforcement mechanisms in 2025 to curb dangerous driving and reduce fatalities further.

Shutter speed 

Road safety body pushing to start catching offenders on camera, emailing tickets for traffic violations

Jamaica Gleaner/27 Dec 2024/Livern Barrett/Senior Staff Reporter

ENFORCEMENT OF a legislative provision that authorises the use of cameras to detect speeding and other traffic violations and permits emailed tickets to offenders will be a top priority for the country’s main roadsafety advocate.

The disclosure by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) comes amid what is expected to be a seven-year low for the number of deaths on Jamaica’s roadways.

A total of 362 people have died in motor vehicle crashes since January 1 this year, a 14 per cent decrease year-on-year, according to the latest data released by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA).

Three deaths, including a motorcyclist attempting to ‘undertake’ a truck along the Nonpareil main road in Westmoreland, were recorded on Christmas Day, pushing to 25 the number of fatalities recorded so far this month.

With five days remaining in the year, road-safety advocates are projecting that the final tally could be “under 370”.

Jamaica, which, for years, has been trying to bring fatalities under 300, recorded 425 road deaths last year and 488 in 2022 – an all-time high – 487, 433, 440, and 389 for each of the five previous calendar years.

A total of 262 fatal crashes this year have been attributed to improper use of the roadways. At the top of the list is the 87 fatal crashes caused by “excessive speeding with no regard to condition”, according to the ITA data.

Failing to keep to the near side or to the proper traffic lane resulted in 76 fatal crashes.

Another

33 were caused by

overtaking improperly on offside; while 32 were due to pedestrians walking or standing in the road. Fifteen were caused by swerving and 19 by turning to the right “without due care”.

MAIN PRIORITY FOR 2025

Dr Lucien Jones, vice-chairman of the NRSC, said the main priority for 2025 is to“move the needle forward” on the electronic enforcement mechanism included in the Road Traffic Regulations 2022.

The regulations authorise the use of cameras at or near major thoroughfares to detect red-light and speeding violations and permit authorities to email the resulting ticket to the offender.

However, among the challenges affecting implementation of the system is making contact with offenders who either do not have a registered address or an email address, Jones explained.

Though the system has significant benefits, it could also cause a “massive” increase in tickets that cannot be sent out, causing a pile-up in the backend of the system, he cautioned yesterday in response to questions submitted by The Gleaner.

“This would significantly increase the pick-up of drivers who speed and thus drive down the number of fatalities caused by speeding and reckless driving.”

Another issue at the top of the NRSC agenda for 2025 is to revisit the Action Plan for Motorcyclists.

More than 130 motorcyclists and pillion passengers have died in crashes this year, making it the “number one problem” facing the NRSC, Jones said.

He disclosed that the newly formed National Helmet-wearing Coalition has already begun to deliver on its mandate to create an environment that will encourage motorcyclists to wear an approved helmet.

“This will play a significant role going forward.”

Jones believes that the introduction of the new road traffic law and improvements in the ticketing system, which have led to more arrest warrants being issued, are among the reasons for the reduction in road deaths this year.

“More warrants being issued for those who failed to pay or attend court has made a difference in driver behaviour, generally. This as there is more certainty of being caught if you speed,” he said.

What is missing, Jones said, are the resources the NRSC needs to conduct high-quality, sustained, and targeted public education.

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