The Editor, Sir:

The ever-increasing number of fatalities on our roads is putting Jamaica's roads in the unfortunate position of being among the most dangerous roads in the world.

Public transport vehicles account for the largest number of fatalities. It is sometimes scary to see overloaded buses and taxis tear along the road as bats out of hell. It is clear that many of our drivers do not know the road code. Some of them can't read.

There needs to be a review of the fines for speeding, overtaking on a solid white line, forming illegal lanes at intersections and running red lights. In the case of public passenger vehicles, it is my very strong view that fines for breaches of the road traffic laws should be doubled.

Counter-productive

Police should travel the highways in unmarked vehicles to apprehend those people who drive in a manner that threatens the life of others. It is counter-productive for police patrols to sit under a shade tree and wait for speeding motorists. Other motorists passing these patrols flash their lights to indicate that the police are ahead, so everybody slows down, and then speeds up when he/she has passed the stationary police team.

We also need to teach drivers how to use our new high-speed highways. The Bureau of Standards should be more vigilant in regulating the importation of tyres as some of the cheapest tyres not suitable for highway use are flooding the island.

I am, etc.,

A. GUY MORRIS

Falmouth