Opposition accuses gov't of failing to deal with crash hot spots

 

The parliamentary opposition says the government has failed to address road surfaces at locations labelled crash hot spots.

 

Opposition Spokesman on Transport Mikael Phillips says, while motorists have a responsibility for their safety, the government should also play its part in ensuring roadways are safe.

 

He wants closer attention to be paid to road surfaces in crash hot spots. 

 

"Jamaicans have to understand, those who are using the road, that they also have a responsibility to drive safely, but also the government has a responsibility in making those hot spots, those areas where we see an increased number of road crashes, in dealing with those road surfaces that have not just popped up overnight, but that has come up in all research of being a hot spot on our roadways, especially on the North Coast Highway, in dealing with the road surfaces and dealing with the hardwares," the opposition spokesman suggested. 

 

Mr. Phillips wants the transport minister to use some of the revenue from traffic ticket fines to boost public education campaigns around road safety in light of the spate of fatal crashes.

 

"So the minister made an announcement earlier this year that some of the ticketing fines, the revenue from it would go to the Ministry of Transport to do some public education campaign on road safety. We have seen drips of it. We have not seen a fulsome campaign put out there. But I have said from day one that the high fines from the Road Traffic Act itself would not be a deterrent to what we are seeing on our roads, but it will take real enforcement and ensuring that we hold those who break the law, we bring them to books. It's not just about writing one or two tickets, but changing a culture and discipline on the roads," he urged.