Jamaica Demerit Point System Takes Effect September 30 to Curb Reckless Driving

Motorists who flout Jamaica's road rules will face a demerit point regime from September 30, 2026, with repeat offenders at risk of having their driver's licences suspended.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz told a press briefing that the framework is essential to restoring order on the nation's highways. Under the Road Traffic Act 2018 and the Road Traffic Regulations 2022, each driver begins with a clean record. Points accumulate with violations: six for running a traffic light or stop sign, and four for exceeding the speed limit by between 33 and 49 kilometres per hour.

Licence penalties escalate with the tally. Between 10 and 13 points brings a six-month suspension; 14 to 19 points means a one-year ban; and 20 or more points triggers a two-year suspension. The point record resets every 15 months for drivers who remain within the law.

Vaz described the rollout as a major step toward modernising traffic enforcement and promoting responsible driving nationwide. The announcement lands amid sustained worry over road deaths. Figures up to June 24 show 136 people killed in 122 crashes, with speeding, reckless and impaired driving, and other dangerous conduct cited as leading causes.

"It is no secret that existing on our roads, we have several drivers with hundreds of tickets outstanding who do who have not had their licenses suspended or and are the main perpetrators of reckless and lawless behaviors on our road," Vaz said.

Although fatalities have dipped slightly, he warned the outlook remains grave. Sustained progress could mark a fifth straight year of decline, with coordinated work by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Transport, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force aimed at keeping deaths below 300 by 2027.

The government is also rolling out a national road safety campaign financed partly from traffic-ticket revenue. Vaz said 1.1 million tickets remain outstanding and 118,000 were issued recently. Drivers have a short period to settle unpaid fines before the demerit system begins.

Public passenger vehicle operators have been put on notice as well. The Transport Authority urged PPV drivers to comply, noting that licences underpin their livelihoods and that persistent misconduct could lead to suspension or revocation of operating permits.