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The way is now cleared for an intensified clampdown on bad drivers as the Senate on Friday approved the new Road Traffic Regulations.
The regulations contain 299 orders, grouped into 13 parts, which provide for a slate of new offences and hefty fines under the Road Traffic Act.
It will allow for the installation of electronic devices to, among other things, detect motorists who drive above the speed limit, disobey traffic signals, make improper turns, or operate a vehicle without a valid Certificate of Fitness or insurance.
The regulations, which were approved in the House of Representatives on July 5, also provide for the issuing of traffic tickets via electronic means.
During Friday's debate in the Senate, a number of the members expressed hope that the regulations will have some impact in discouraging indiscipline on the roads.
The deaths of four persons from Sunday's two-vehicle crash on the Llandovery main road in St. Ann were highlighted during the presentations.
Senator Kavan Gayle appealed for the new road traffic regulations to be enforced to stop the carnage on roads.
He also pointed to another offence - not currently captured in the regulations - where some motorists drive into a filter lane at an intersection only to cut in front of the driver going straight when the light turns green.
As such, Senator Gayle urged the legislators to consider inserting a provision in the new regulations that would deal with the issue of "improper usage of the filter lane".
Increase in insurance claims
During the debate, Senator Don Wehby said local insurance companies have seen an increase in claims from motor vehicle crashes.
During the first six months of this year insurers received claims amounting to $8.5 billion.
That was a 21 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Senator Wehby said there was also a double digit jump in claims in 2021, amounting to $14 billion or a 10 per cent increase compared to 2020.
He said $10.9 billion or 77 per cent of this amount was due to physical damage of motor vehicles and third party claims.
Another $3.2 billion or 23 per cent was attributable to bodily injury.
Senator Wehby lamented that the number of people having to seek medical assistance for injuries from road crashes meant extreme stress on the country's hospital system.
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