By Clinton McGregor
The Island Traffic Authority has reiterated that its inspectors are not authorised to chase transport operators accused of traffic violations.
There was much public outrage earlier this month following claims that two students where killed in a motor vehicle crash along the Bustamante Highway in Clarendon when the driver of a robot taxi was allegedly being chased by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and Transport Authority.
Speaking on Radio Jamaica's Hotline on Thursday morning, Corporate Communications Manager at the Island Traffic Authority Donte Matthews said personnel at the ITA are not authorised to pursue motorists.
"We don't have the power to stop. The police, they have the power to stop. The Transport Authority, they have the power to stop public passenger vehicles or commercial vehicles. But we (ITA), when the police stop the vehicles to do spot checks, we check the vehicles to see if they are compliant with their Certificate of Fitness. So we have the power to remove the licence plate but we don't have the power to stop a vehicle," he explained while speaking with Hotline host Emily Shields.
The driver of the robot taxi in the Clarendon crash has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
In the meantime, Mr. Matthews said the ITA is concerned about the number deadly motor vehicle crashes recorded across the island.
He said up to Thursday morning, there were 352 road fatalities, a 14 per cent decline compared to the same period last year when 410 people had died.
Despite the decline, Mr. Matthews lamented that the number of road deaths is "still too much", so more must be done to curtail this.
He said motorcyclists account for the majority of deaths, followed by pedestrians and private motor vehicle drivers.
The ITA's corporate communications manager urged persons to adhere to the rules of the road, stressing that motorists should not drink and drive.
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