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Transport Authority Decries Abuse of Commuter's Rights to Disembark Vehicle
The Transport Authority is decrying the blatant abuse of passenger rights as highlighted by a recent video circulated on social media and is warning offending operators that its operations teams will be exercising a zero tolerance approach to such incidents. The Authority uses this medium to express its deepest concern for the obvious distress suffered by the female passenger, whose rights, as a commuter were clearly infringed, since every passenger has a right to freely embark and disembark a motor vehicle at any convenient point. The Authority also publicly condemns the unsympathetic behaviour of the driver of the motor vehicle, who disregarded his responsibility to ensure that passengers are transported in a safe, secure and comfortable manner. Having become aware of the incident, the Authority commenced extensive efforts to contact the distressed passenger or other persons who may have witnessed the incident. A public plea was made on radio by the General Manager, Operations of the Transport Authority requesting that contact be made. Further, the Authority has intensified its monitoring and regulating of Public Passenger Vehicles, through the use of technology. As a part of this thrust, the Authority has added two applications to its monitoring system; WhatsApp and the Drive Safe Jamaica App, which are both fully functional and in use by the commuting public. Videos and pictures of infractions being committed by operators of Public Passenger Vehicles may be uploaded to the Transport Authority’s WhatsApp number, (876) 551-8196 or to the Drive Safe Jamaica App, which can be downloaded in Google Play Store. The Authority encourages the public to fully utilize these applications to report the various infractions that may be committed by PPV operators, so that the appropriate sanctions under the Transport Authority’s Suspension and Revocation Policy can be applied. Additionally, the Authority is encouraging members of the commuting public to choose only legal Public Passenger Vehicles as their mode of transportation.
Transport Authority Warns Public Passenger Vehicle Operators to Discontinue the Practice of Overcharging Fares
The Transport Authority is warning Public Passenger Vehicle operators that they should immediately desist from the practice of overcharging commuters’ fares for use of public transportation in the corporate area. Since the withdrawal of service by the JUTC, this morning, the Authority has again received several complaints from the commuting public that unscrupulous persons are insisting commuters including children to pay more than the approved fares in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR), particularly in sections of Spanish Town. This is illegal and a violation of the rights of the commuters. Accordingly, the Transport Authority operations teams are monitoring this situation closely and operators found to be “unlawfully deceiving passengers as to the fare for a journey” will be prosecuted under regulation 129 (d) of the Road Traffic Regulations. The Transport Authority will continue to prosecute for this offence as it intensifies its drive over the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, the commuting public is reminded that one of the dangers of using unlicensed Public Passenger Vehicles is that these operators often charge exorbitant fares. The Authority is therefore urging the commuting public to use licensed public transport vehicles which display red Public Passenger Vehicle plates and the light blue Transport Authority sticker on the windshield with expiration dates of 2020 and onwards. Commuters may report incidents of overcharging through the Authority’s toll-free line at 888-991-5687; WhatsApp images or videos to 876-551-8196, providing the licence plate numbers and the routes for the vehicles; or download the Drive Safe Jamaica App in the Google Play Store and submit your images or videos.
Transport Authority Reminds PPV Operators to Adhere by Requirement for Taxi Globe
The Transport Authority is reminding operators of Hackney Carriages and Route Taxis that under regulation 7(1) of the Taxis and Contract Cars Regulations (1963), Hackney Carriages and Route Taxis are required to display their globes at all times. All taxis are to be fitted with a yellow globe on the centre of the roof of the vehicles, 12 inches from the windscreen and the globe must be displayed at all times during the operation of the vehicles. Additionally, the Transport Authority is restating that globes are required for the examination and renewal of licences of Public Passenger Vehicles and the Authority will be reinforcing the regulation. In the meantime, the Transport Authority is reminding these PPV operators that they must adhere to all the terms and conditions of their road licences and the road traffic laws in order to avoid prosecution.
Transport Authority Meets with Major Stakeholders within the Sector
In furtherance of the Authority’s mandate to ensure a safe and orderly transport system, the Authority has sought to continuously engage its stakeholders and maintain its commitment to open, honest dialogue and has extended an invitation to meet with the Presidents of the Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators (JATOO) and the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS) on Monday, August 19, 2019, to discuss a number of matters relating to the public transport sector. The Transport Authority is committed to partnering with its stakeholders to ensure that order and stability are maintained within the sector. As such, these discussions to be held with the main stakeholders, to include Route Taxi Associations and Hackney Carriage Companies, represent the Authority’s commitment to continuous consultations with its stakeholders island-wide. The Transport Authority continues to Regulate with Vision.
