Growing need for driver discipline in Jamaica
Published:Tuesday | July 8, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Daily commute on Jamaica’s roads is becoming increasingly unpredictable, not because of increased traffic, but because of the bad behaviour behind the wheel. Reckless overtaking, disregard for traffic signals, disregard for road markings, and aggressive driving have become all too common, raising serious concerns about road safety and public responsibility.
According to the Road Safety Unit, over 400 road fatalities were recorded in 2024, many of them preventable. The root cause? A culture of indiscipline that prioritises speed and convenience over caution and courtesy.
Public transportation drivers are often singled out, but the problem spans all vehicle types. Motorcyclists weave through traffic without helmets, private drivers ignore pedestrian crossings, and taxi operators are blind to stop signs. The result is a chaotic and dangerous driving environment where rules are bent and lives are risked.
Improving driver discipline isn’t just about enforcement, it’s about education and accountability. Defensive driving courses, stricter penalties for repeat offenders, and public awareness campaigns can all play a role in reshaping our road culture.
Until then, everyone, whether behind the wheel or crossing the street, remains vulnerable to the consequences of indiscipline. The road should not be treated as a racetrack, but as a shared space where safety comes first. Because of the indiscipline culture, motorists speed at every opportunity. They crawl when they are ‘light flashed’ and, as soon as they pass the police, they are at Dover racetrack. The carnage on our roads is a direct result of speeding, and the root cause is indiscipline.
Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr Lucien Jones, put it bluntly: “If you slow down, lives will be saved, it may be your own … and you might escape getting a fine, which is now a hefty fine, and you might also prevent demerit points attached to your licence as a driver”.
CARLOS PIPHER