ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Motorists involved in crashes that damage or destroy the newly installed street lights along the Elegant Corridor in St James will have to pay for their replacement or repair.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill, said most of the accidents are due to careless and reckless driving and the State cannot be asked to replace the lights, which were provided at a significant cost.

The street lights, along the stretch from Montego Bay to Lilliput, were installed at a sum of $248.4 million through funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

McNeill, who was addressing a function in Mocho in the parish on September 4, said the lights, which were commissioned into service in July, are being destroyed “at an alarming rate” by reckless drivers.

“We put up the lights on the Elegant Corridor. It has made a tremendous difference in terms of beauty and safety. However, already in the last three months, we have had about eight or nine accidents, which have knocked down a number of the poles,” he lamented.

He said that after discussions with the police, the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Mayor of Montego Bay, a decision was taken to recover the cost of the damage from the insurance of the culpable motorist.

“When those poles are knocked down, every car insurance, if it is even third party insurance the (NWA) must apply for it. When somebody hits down what is called road furniture, it must be covered and the agencies must go and ensure that the person who knocked it down come and fix it back,” he stated.

McNeill said that the police will be increasing their vigilance along the Elegant Corridor, to cut down on speeding, which is the main contributor to the accidents on the roadway.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing,

Dr Morais Guy, said earlier this year that consideration is being given to charging motorists for the repair of damage to road furniture across the island.

He said legal advice is being sought on the matter.