The full arm of the law will be brought to bear against persons who have been selling and illegally obtaining driver’s licences, says Minister of Transport and Mining, Audley Shaw.

Addressing the official launch of York Castle High School’s Driver Education Programme in Brown’s Town, St Ann on January 27, Shaw said that for too long the practice of “purchasing licences” has gone unabated, allowing persons, many with no driving experience, to be on the road operating motor vehicles.

“We have an unfortunate situation in our country where some people are buying their driver’s licence [to the detriment of all of us]. They are not taking a test for it… they are buying it,” the Minister noted.

“This has resulted in unqualified and inexperienced persons getting motor vehicles… going at excessive speed, with no regard for road and environmental conditions. These are some of the reasons behind the fatal crashes we have been seeing on our roads.

This is very unfortunate, and as the Minister of Transport and Mining, I am issuing a warning that it is going to end. It is my duty as Minister [to put a stop] to this,” he emphasised.

Shaw said that further compounding the matter is that many youngsters have also been illegally operating motor vehicles, causing havoc and mayhem on the nation’s streets, with no care for their actions.

“Statistics from the Road Safety Unit show that in 2022, 488 people died in crashes, with young people up to 29 years old accounting for 170 deaths… the highest figure of any age cohort,” he noted.

“Unqualified minors are operating vehicles across the island, contributing to road crashes. We must put a stop to it, and we will be holding persons responsible,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, 36 of 37 sixth-form students from York Castle High School passed the Island Traffic Authority’s written road code test and will receive their learner’s permit, giving them the legal permission to operate a motor vehicle, accompanied by a licensed driver.

READ: Students given green light

The school’s principal, Raymond Treasure, said that Driver Education was added to the school’s curriculum in 2014 but that “this is the first time we have partnered with the Island Traffic Authority to have students sit the test”.

Under the new Road Traffic Act, a road code test must be taken to be granted a provisional driver’s licence or a learner’s permit. Another test must be successfully completed within six months to obtain a driver’s licence.