WE have, in this space, been very strident on the matter of strict enforcement of the provisions of the new Road Traffic Act, which we hope will help to curb the disorderliness and chaos on the streets of Jamaica. So it might seem contradictory that we are now advocating caution in respect of the commencement by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) of suspending driver’s licences for breaches of the Act by those accumulating 10 or more demerit points.

The suspension is allowed under the Road Traffic Act 2018 and the Road Traffic Regulations 2022, which were implemented on February 1, 2023. Regulations under the Act cover areas such as fitness, registration and licensing of motor vehicles; construction of and equipment for motor vehicles; licensing of drivers; certification of driving instructors and licensing of driving schools; traffic signs; speed limits; and rules of the road.

The provisions under the new Act are indispensable for reining in the horrific behaviour of road hogs whose dangerous driving threaten law-abiding road users and make traversing the roads a daily act of putting one’s life in jeopardy. Hopefully, the heavy fines will bring to heel those who thumbed their noses at the paltry sums previously imposed.

As of May 2, 2023, the ITA says it has issued more than 100 notices of suspension of driving permits to people who have already attracted 10 or more demerit points. That represents 100 licences in one week, a clear indication of how bad the situation is on the road.

Our caution, however, is that the authorities, in suspending licences, do not cause more harm than good.

Indiscipline has become endemic in our country, and large numbers of motorists have become accustomed to getting away with it. Some of them think the police are being hard and wicked for trying to stop them “from earning a living”.

Among these motorists are big numbers of operators in public transportation and construction, market truck drivers, utility companies, and other sectors in which driving is critical.

If we annualise 100 licences in one week, that becomes 5,200 in one year.

We must recall the scenes in January when total chaos reigned as thousands of recalcitrant motorists rushed the traffic courts to pay last-minute fines so as to beat the new provisions. Obviously unprepared for the fallout, the Court Administration Division was forced to implement emergency measures to bring order to the system that almost crumbled.

We are suggesting that every effort be made to plan for any fallout from motorists being rendered unable to drive and hurting the economy. It might be useful to review how many demerit points should be taken for the various breaches, or for how long a driver’s licence is suspended.

As notified by the traffic authority, people who have accumulated 10-13 demerit points will have their licence suspended for six months; for 14-19 demerit points, one year; and 20 demerit points equates to a two-year suspension.

Drivers will have to be notified of the suspension of their licences. Addresses, even where they are correct, can be difficult to find. That can breed corruption as people seek to get around the problem, or lead to unnecessary clashes between traffic police and motorists.