Stop showing mercy to reckless drivers

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Who is in charge of road safety in Jamaica? Is it the Island Traffic Authority or the law enforcement officials? What is the role of the Road Traffic Act? Are these operating bodies doing a good job?

Recently, a taxi operator accumulated 1,091 traffic tickets; another motorist was in trouble, after amassing 425 traffic tickets; and another, 423, and the list goes on. And, did I hear news that one was also given 700-odd traffic tickets some time ago?

This is absolutely ridiculous! How can you allow law breakers of the Road Traffic Act to get away with so many traffic tickets, or be given so many chances, for speeding or who the devil knows what? This is unacceptable! They should be given one or two tickets, and that should be enough. But so many? That’s crazy!

All those who are giving out, and continue giving out multiple traffic tickets to reckless drivers, who are disobeying traffic laws, should be charged and sent to prison, because they are not setting any example.

Paying money for traffic fines is not enough. What about the cost of life? Can they bring back the deceased to life? A rowdy driver who purposefully disobeys traffic laws and ends up killing two or more persons in a traffic accident should be given the death penalty.

A stiff-necked driver who deliberately ignores the warning to drive carefully or to cut his speed, if there should be an accident, resulting in the loss of a life, that stubborn brute should be given 60 years in prison.

I am appealing to you all, open your mouths and shout out to reckless and careless drivers who are gambling with your lives on the streets of Jamaica. The powers that be must stop showing mercy to barefaced motorists who are displaying bad road manners.

DONALD J. MCKOY