Letter of the Day | Stand firm against taxi protests
Published:Tuesday | November 20, 2018 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I urge the Government to stay focused on getting the Road Traffic bill passed into law and not be sidetracked by protest action of sundry taxi associations.
After many years of unbridled indiscipline on our roads, at least on paper, the soon-to-be-enacted Road Traffic Act promises to restore some semblance of order.
If the act is enforced, the new penalties and punitive fines should be effective deterrents to those among us who take pleasure in displaying disregard for the rules of the road.
Operators of 'route taxis' are some of the main promoters of the disorder on our roads, so it is not surprising that they and their associations are against provisions of the act.
To hear them tell it, the increased fine and, hopefully, improved enforcement, will force them out of business. Implicit in their position is the suggestion that route taxis cannot operate within the constraints of the Road Traffic Act and 'eat a food'. Hogwash!
To further bolster their position, they cite the valuable service they provide moving workers, students, etc, from 'point A to point B', as if to suggest the provision of a valuable service is justification for endangering the lives of their passengers and other users of the road.
The Government must not succumb to attempts at blackmail by route taxi operators withdrawing service and punishing their beloved passengers. To avoid traffic fines, all the motoring public (route taxi operators included) needs to do is obey the law.
I urge the Government to 'stand firm' and press ahead while ensuring the enforcement component is in place with traffic cameras that work. Anticipate vandalism and ensure adequate supplies of spares are available.
THEJUTC
The Government must also plan for the long term and adequately resource the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to transform it from a ramshackle service to one designed to transport passengers in a dignified manner.
Legacy road projects notwithstanding, our challenge with congestion on the nation's roads will continue until we develop a comprehensive transportation policy incorporating road, rail and sea.
Wayne R. Plummer
Portmore, St Catherine