ITA hints at six-month timeline for implementation of demerit points system

 

On the heels of the announcement by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz that the new demerit points system, which was expected to take effect on October 1, will be delayed, the Island Traffic Authority has hinted at a new timeline for implementation. 

 

Under the system, points would be added to a driver's record for specific traffic offences. 

 

Speaking on TVJ's All Angles on Wednesday evening, Director General of the Island Traffic Authority, Lieutenant Colonel Sheldon Bryan noted that the system is expected to be ready within a few months.

 

"So, we've come up with a plan, an implementation plan, an enforcement plan. What I can say is once we get past the legislative piece, we've assessed that in six months we should be able to go live with the full review and with the full system, both from the ITA, the judiciary and also from the JCF enforcement component of it," he said.

 

In response, Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr. Lucien Jones, argued that the six-month time frame would be a disaster. 

 

"I am more optimistic than the six months. Six months would be a disaster. So far for September, 15 people have died in the last eight days. In August, 39 people died. In July, 40 people died. We're on a track which is going to cause us tremendous loss of life if you don't have the systems in place between now and December. That should not happen," he warned.

 

Stakeholders have pushed back against the system, arguing that the penalties for some violations are excessive. Motorists were given until September 30 to clear outstanding tickets. 

 

Meanwhile, a task force headed by State Minister in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, is reviewing the system, including the backlog of tickets and necessary legislative changes.