Those who advise our leaders believe that to get motorists to exercise discipline while driving, we need to have hefty fines for breaches of the traffic law.
Drivers believe that the traffic ticketing system is aimed at collecting taxes. The system says thanks for contributing to national development when one pays for one's ticket online.
The solution to the confusion on our roads is simple. The government should build good roads that are properly maintained. Our roads must have appropriate signs. We also need intelligent and mature drivers who care for others to drive on these roads.
The following are my ideas for dealing with the mess we come across daily on our roads:
- Your first time committing a traffic offence within the last two years the system should give you a warning ticket.
- For the second traffic ticket, you should be ticketed for JAD5000,
- For the third traffic ticket, your driver's license should be suspended for one month. You would also be fined JAD30,000.
- For each subsequent traffic ticket, you would be fined JAD30,000 plus three months suspension of your license.
- If you get six tickets in three years, your licence will be cancelled. You will then have to drive under the supervision of a certified and registered driving instructor for at least ten hours. You would also have to attend classroom instruction given by a member of the traffic police.
- If you drive while your license is suspended or revoked then you will not be able to acquire a driver's license again and you could be made to serve at least 12 months or a maximum of five years in jail.
- If you drive for two years without getting any traffic tickets then your previous tickets would be moved to history and would not have any cumulative effect in terms of penalties.
I guarantee you that in two years, many indisciplined drivers will be removed automatically from our streets. All of this is wishful thinking because, in this country, you will never see any leader bold enough to take these steps. In the meantime, we will continue to kill off one another on our roads.
This is how we drive on our roads. We overtake at the intersection where there is a continuous white line:
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| He has turned the street into a one-way street at the intersection of St. Lucia Avenue and Trafalgar Road. |
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| Are these the drivers who talk about the poor behaviour of getto people??? |
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| One of the few kind drivers on our roads! |
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| This is the area on St. Lucia Avenue where cars overtake in the afternoons. They drive through the gas station sometimes to beat the traffic. |
Below you will see a video which shows you the result of poor driving.
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Brilliant suggestions
ReplyDeleteThe suggestions are harsh but that's what's needed in this country to reign in these reckless drivers. The Holness led government does not have the balls to implement them though.SMDH
ReplyDeleteI see a tripartite array of lawlessness that contributes to crime. 1- road usage and taxi service, 2- scamming and 3- capturing of land. If the govt can address these 4 then MAYBE crime can begin to be tackled....foundation fren say do..
ReplyDeleteYour suggestions could be considered and adopted / adapted but what about properly enforcing the system we now have and collectibg the fines? Is the technology being used to send tickets via the mail and ensuring collection?
ReplyDeleteWe are scared of 5G and NIDS as if they are taking away our rights. Yes, they are taking away our rights to be lawless, and our rights to commit crimes without being detectable. We are caught between acquiring 5G technology from the US, China, and others. Given the fact that 5G can find a wanted person within 7 minutes in a busy city like Beijing or Hong Kong, I would go for the Chinese technology. The chance of China using data from the technology to pursue Jamaicans for other reasons, I would go for Chinese 5G. That 5G will cause radiation harm is rubbish.
ReplyDeleteHow does this help our roads from those who ignore the road traffic act, tax evasion, or other breaches? It is simple. The 5G technology monitors movement, detects breaches, and can apply the remedies to these breaches by sending you the evidence of the road traffic violation to your phone, computer, or by mail to your home for those who are off the grid. Failure to pay your fine will require you to do so at the next renewal. If you plan to travel, you can't leave without taking care of your tickets or your non-oayment of outstanding taxes for that matter. The technology helps to reduce our interface with the Police, leaving them to deal with hard core criminal activity. More importantly, 5G technology applies the law equally and not in favour of those with influence who can circumvent the law. So no need for unduly harsh fines. Efficient collection, even by deducting from salary or your bank account would be a greater deterrent than you being hunted down by the State and spending time in the court.
Loitering should also be a 'ticketable' offense!
ReplyDeletePayment of tickets should be convenient - online, paymaster, bill express etc., anywhere in the island! It is absolutely ridiculous that persons have to return to the parish of the offence to attend court to pay for a traffic ticket! We waste too much productive hours in this country.
Daily interest after due date, reminder msg sent to your last cel phone number, use the technology available. Summons after 6 months non-payment, annually all tickets for the year must be cleared up. The exception being 'contested tickets'.
These people must feel the full force of the law shake me head👹
ReplyDeleteThere is a double edged sword that exists in our society. Funny, you spoke about penalties for egregious acts committed by motorists, but who punishes the blatant, fraudulent, acts committed by the police, who are supposed to be upholding the law, and leading by example?
ReplyDeleteI have had two cases concerning traffic violations, where the police have shown a lack of integrity. Where does a citizen get recourse for such injustice? Is there a true Internal Affairs unit that investigates these occurrences?
My most recent encounter was a speeding ticket on the new highway, heading to Montego Bay. I was just completing my assent, and about to come down the descending portion of the Claremont leg, when I noticed two officers attending to a black BMW on the side. Apparently, it was stopped for speeding, so two other vehicles in front of me, that had past me, began to apply their brakes. Suddenly, the officer who was holding the radar gun and talking to the driver of the black car, looked up and signalled me to pull over, but also seemed uncertain. So, because I did not think I was speeding, and that maybe he wanted to check my documents, I pulled over. He approached my vehicle, and I politely greeted him. He asked ," what kind of job you do" , which I found unusual, but I answered him. He asked for my license, then showed me the radar gun, smiled, and said, "I am going to give you a little ticket". I said okay, and he proceeded to his partner, who was busy on his cellphone. The speed he claimed he registered, was 98kmh in an 80. While I waited for the ticket, his partner kept pacing back and forth with his phone. I stood in silence.
Finally, he gave me the ticket, and I asked him the procedure to pay, which he seemed upset to disclose. He told me I could pay on-line, and then I asked about a court date. This made him upset! He said I would have to appear in Claremont on the date showing on the ticket. I politely said thank you, and left.
When I arrived at my destination, I realized that the issuing officer had actually reported/recorded a higher speed on the ticket than what was showing on the radar,which would definitely put me in the red!!
Now, how does a motorist combat that evil? Does it mean that in addition to the high cost of owning a vehicle, we now have to retrofit cameras with gps recording in our vehicles? Should police radars now have live capture of the speeding vehicles as proof? Either way, it shows that we are in a terrible state!!
Integrity is lacking in our society.
I think, as suggested, the first offense should be a warning, and noted in the system. Accountability will now fall on both parties; the motorists and the police. This will also make it simple and clear cut for the judge to make a decision, should the matter go before the court.
Hefty fines do deter undesired behavior so long as they are consistently enforced. The government in addition to this, should consider establishing State Driving Schools. These would train and equip potential drivers to get their drivers' licence. Private schools may also be certified to offer the same services. Only state-verified instructors would be able to offer driving lessons. The theory aspect should be done and upon its completion the practical aspect will ensue.
ReplyDeleteE. L
While I agree with your statement, just imagine driving on green when someone stepped out infront of you and you had to stop, you proceed after the person crosses because you are already in the road. Then you are ticketed for disobeying a traffic signal. Commonsense is lacking in many of these police officers and that's where the issue lies.
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