DUE to their high fatality rate, stringent policies are being enacted to control the practices of motorcyclists on the nation’s roads.

Motorcycle drivers had been warned, since the Road Traffic Act (RTA) was passed in 2018, that they would have to be properly trained and certified to operate on the roads. However, for a long time a motorcyclist only needed an indefinite learner’s licence to ride on the public thoroughfare and there were no restrictions in the noise pollution most of the motorcycles caused with upgraded or “suped-up” mufflers.

However, there has been public support for the new regulations, which were recently passed in the Houses of Parliament to rein in the intolerable behaviour of the motorcyclists which has been causing noise health problems and feeding fears of increased robberies as thieves use this mode of transport for a quick getaway.

The fact that the death toll among motorcyclists has increased by over 100 per cent in the last few years, has caused great concern.

“We are going in entirely the wrong direction. There is no other category of road users which has seen such a drastic increase,” said executive director of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Paula Fletcher.

“This is even more of a concern because the system has allowed motorcyclists to drive indefinitely on a learner’s permit, with no mandate for them to move to a stage of certification, as is the case with drivers of motor vehicles,” she added, noting that under the new RTA regulations that loophole has been blocked and the motor bikes and cyclists will have to be certified to use the roadways.

“First time, you could go with your identification and if you are of a certain age you could get your permit. Now, you have to satisfy not just the age requirement, but pass the road code test to ensure that you can read before you get a permit to operate a motor bike,” she pointed out.

Director of Island Traffic Authority (ITA) Kenute Hare has since given warning of plans to carry out joint operations with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) aimed at sending a strong message to motorcyclists who contribute to the noise issue.

“We’re also appealing to companies who employ motorcyclists to transport their goods, to ensure that their ‘suped up’ mufflers are replaced with silencers, because we are going to address that matter once and for all,” Hare warned.