Island Traffic Authority to be part of the Road Traffic Act - How HD CCTV Cameras and Rear-View Cameras reduce Vehicles fatalities

Looks like the ITA (Island Traffic Authority) has finally been drafted into the Road Traffic Act!

Recent amendments to the Road Traffic Act make it possible for Drivers Licenses to blocked for Renewal by the ITA if the fine isn't paid to the Tax Administration Jamaica as stated in the article “New law aims to deny license renewal for unpaid tickets”, Published Friday September 26, 2014Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

This was revealed during a meeting of a joint select committee of Parliament on Wednesday September 24^th 2014 by Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Janine Dawkins. These changes are in a bid to reduce road fatalities in Jamaica.

Committee Chairman Dr Omar Davies urged Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Janine Dawkins to complete the 139 page bill and ratify the amendments into law before March 2015.

I suspect Dr Omar Davies really meant Christmas, as he might be planning to do a bit more drinking this Christmas!

With the coming amendment to the Road Traffic Act, suspensions for non-payment of Traffic tickets will be as follows:

1.      6 months

2.      1 year

3.      2 years

This is now possible as the updated Road Traffic Act has a few changes, particularly in Section 33, which specifically names the ITA as the body that will authorize the suspension of a Jamaican Driver’s License if they have on or several unpaid Tickets or have accumulated the following number of demerit points:

1.      10 or more but less than 14 demerit points

2.      14 or more but less than 20 demerit points

ITA and the Road Traffic Act - HD CCTV Cameras and Rear-view Cameras on Vehicles needed

Interestingly too, the Jamaican Driver's Guide: Road Code Edition isn't an official publication of the ITA, as theirs is outdated. It would be interesting to see their updated publication would be any different.

Thus amendments to the Road Traffic Act will create a licensing System for Driving Schools as had been envisioned back in January 2013 by Minister of Transport and Works Dr. Omar Davies as stated in my blog article entitled “New Road Traffic Act will include Licensing Driving Schools and Cellphone Bans - Beware Motorists in Turbo mode of the coming Automated Traffic Ticketing System”.

Hopefully, the Road Traffic Act amendments will be backed up with the installation of HD CCTV Cameras at intersections to catch persons in the act of using their cellphones while driving as I'd written about in my blog article entitled “Road Traffic Act to be Amended to Ban Vehicular Cellphones and Tablet usage – HD CCTV Enforcement necessary as Legislation needs Teeth”.

Hopefully too, they’ll regulate such driving aids as the US$499 Navdy, a HUD (Heads Up Display) unit that projects information the driver needs on their windscreen as described in my blog article entitled “Navdy HUD Projector – Heads Up Display for Apps with Voice and Gesture Commands to control your Car while Driving”.

Also, there should be amendments to legislation to address the rise of Electric Bicycles as I'd noticed in the community of Swallowfield next to the National Stadium and sandwiched between Old Hope Road and Arthur Wint Drive in Kingston and elsewhere in Jamaica.

Ultimately I'm hoping that the ITA will make it mandatory for Motorists to install Rear-view Cameras on their vehicles to not only reduce accidentally hitting pedestrians from behind when reversing but also serve as evidence in course during rear-end collisions as noted in my blog article entitled “Electric Bicycles and Motorcycles next Big Jamaican trend by Christmas 2014 - How Backtracker and Rear View Cameras in the Road Traffic Act can help”.

That, Committee Chairman Dr Omar Davies, would be something worth drinking to come Christmas 2014!