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“[…] How many more accidents must occur due to defective tires, missing lights, or overloaded trucks before enforcement is taken seriously?
“[…] Many trucks spew toxic emissions unchecked, while traffic police turn a blind eye. The Demerit System should include emissions violations, penalising offenders as it does for tinted windows. Cleaner air and safer highways are achievable, if laws are enforced…”
The following Letter to the Editor on the misbehaviour targeted by the Demerit Points System was submitted to Wired868 by Salaah Inniss of Santa Rosa Heights:
Photo: Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
The ongoing debate around Trinidad and Tobago’s Road Traffic Act, particularly the Demerit Points System, should focus not on partisan politics but on what truly safeguards our citizens.
While some clauses are uncontroversial (eg, penalising drunk driving or uninsured vehicles), others demand urgent reform to address.
How many more accidents must occur due to defective tires, missing lights, or overloaded trucks before enforcement is taken seriously?
Repeat offenders operating unroadworthy vehicles—private or commercial—should face stiffer penalties: hefty fines, impoundment, and license suspensions of up to one year.
The Licensing Authority must ensure rigorous inspections, with fixed penalties for non-compliance.
Commercial trucks with defective tires or excessive loads are a menace. Research shows weigh stations reduce blowouts and curb infrastructure damage—yet Trinidad has only one operational station (Golconda, since 2019). Scaling this nationwide is critical.
Opponents may cry that they have to make a living, but unchecked overloading costs taxpayers millions in road repairs and endangers lives.
Many trucks spew toxic emissions unchecked, while traffic police turn a blind eye. The Demerit System should include emissions violations, penalising offenders as it does for tinted windows. Cleaner air and safer highways are achievable, if laws are enforced.
The Demerit System’s real test is whether it can transform our driving culture. Two years of clean driving expunges points—a good start—but habitual offenders demand stricter consequences.
(via TTPS.)
Public education is equally vital; penalties must be framed as life-saving measures, not mere revenue tools.
Road safety transcends political colours. It’s time to amend the Act with practical, enforceable measures that prioritise people over shortcuts.
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Salaah Inniss is an ardent writer with an enthusiasm for bringing insightful views on national issues. He graduated from Cipriani College in Environmental Management, and is presently working in the Integrated Facilities Building Service Industry. He is an empathetic supporter of conservation and the protection of the environment.
