Dr. Lucien Jones, Vice Chairman of the NRSC - Gleaner file photo
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Dr. Lucien Jones
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reportedly given instructions for the new Road Traffic Act to be implemented before the end of the year.
The order was given during Thursday's meeting of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), which is chaired by the Prime Minister.
This follows a 19 per cent increase in road fatalities since the start of the year.
Dr. Lucien Jones, Vice Chairman of the NRSC, told Radio Jamaica News that the authorities will now have to work quickly to remove roadblocks which stalled the implementation of the Road Traffic Act.
"And apparently the main road block has to do with the CPC, the Chief Parliamentary Council's office, and how to get the bit of legislation passed out of that office. Also, there was a discussion about a number of agencies to whom the regulations were sent and the app was sent, who are to respond, and very people have responded," he explained.
Dr. Jones added that "the Transport Authority Act has to be passed before the Road Traffic Act can be implemented."
The new road traffic law was passed in Parliament two years ago.
The new law has larger fines and harsher penalties.
Road fatalities
Dr. Jones said there has been a spike in road fatalities in Jamaica since the start of the year, with 247 compared to 204 last year.
"And we're up 30 per cent in the number of motorcyclists who are dying," he revealed, putting the figure at around 88 so far this year, compared to 66 last year.
He said it has been projected that up to 450 people could die in road crashes this year, based on the current trajectory, which would be "horrendous."
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