ARRIVE Alive president Sharon Inglefield is seeking a meeting with the newly minted Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour and Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John to discuss road safety matters, including the recent announcement to scrap the former administration's demerit point system.
Inglefield believes the system is too valuable a tool in deterring errant drivers to toss out. Instead, she said shortcomings should be assessed and improvements devised.
"This demerit points system has worked all over the world, particularly first world countries, where they have minimal carnage on their roads and we're really hoping that we can revamp, relook and work together with all stakeholders to relook at the demerit points system to make it a better system rather than scrapping it."
She argued the system has an educational component, which would help improve the mindset of those who are chronic reckless drivers. According to the booklet on the Ministry of Transport's website, participation in a driver's rehabilitation programme approved by the Licensing Authority is one of the steps to regaining permission to drive once a person's permit has been suspended. This is along with retaking driving tests and paying the required fees.
Inglefield said there have been significant gains in improving road safety fatalities, which have been reduced by 50 per cent between 2011 and 2021 due to road safety actions.
"We were one of ten countries in the world that reduced deaths by 50 per cent. That is data that should be followed and what works is following the data."
Chaguanas San Fernando Taxi Drivers' Association president Kevon Philbert shared a similar sentiment. He told Newsday the system should not be abandoned altogether but rather reviewed. He suggested serious infractions like speeding should retain the demerit points, while some leeway could be given for other minor infractions.
"A review is good and I believe if they communicate a little more with the taxi association, the trucking association and the maxi taxis association which is the vehicles that does be on the road lewwe say 24/7, we could come to something more sustainable for everybody."
Last April, TT Taxi Drivers Network president Adrian Acosta raised several concerns about the system. Assistant secretary David Mack added if drivers were able to successfully contest the ticket in court, there was no mechanism to remove the points against them. In some instances, he said drivers were being suspended at ten points instead of 14.
The demerit point system was implemented in 2020 and revised several times over the years. It ascribed points for various traffic offences which would be added to a driver who is in breach of these rules. A person's driver's permit could be suspended for six months if they receive 14 points within a three-year period. With 14 to 20 points, a person could be banned for up to a year and with 20 points or more, that driver could be prohibited from holding a permit for two years.
Up to December 2024,
