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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 Managing Director Beyond the Headlines Interview
Transport Authority Managing Director, Ralston Smith speaking on Radio Jamaica's Beyond The Headlines April 17, 2025 about the 21 Routes in the KMTR to accommodate Route Taxis.
Transport Authority Managing Director Beyond the Headlines Interview
Transport Authority Managing Director, Ralston Smith speaking on Radio Jamaica's Beyond The Headlines April 17, 2025 about the 21 Routes in the KMTR to accommodate Route Taxis.
TRANSPORT AUTHORITY WARNS PUBLIC PASSENGER VEHICLE OPERATORS TO DISCONTINUE THE PRACTICE OF OVERCHARGING OF FARES
Kingston, Jamaica- April 15, 2025: The Transport Authority says it has been brought to its attention that some Public Passenger Vehicle (PPV) Operators have increased their fares and/or are overcharging passengers who use their services across the island. The Authority wishes to advise the public that there has been no authorised fare increase at this time and is warning operators involved in this practice to desist immediately. Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Mr. Ralston Smith is reminding PPV Operators that charging commuters more than the approved fare is illegal, and is warning that the Authority will step up enforcement against this practice. He is cautioning that Operators found guilty of this offence will be prosecuted under regulation 129 (d) of the Road Traffic Regulations and may be fined up to $100,000.00 under section 107(3) of the Road Traffic Act, if convicted for the offence. The Authority is urging commuters who experience acts of overcharging to call 876 618-0859 or WhatsApp images or videos to 876-551-8196 or 876 279-8515. Complaints about overcharging should include the licence plate numbers, the routes for the vehicles or the location of the incident. Commuters may also download the Drive Safe Jamaica and Travel Pal apps from the Google Play or App stores and submit images, videos or complaints on these portals. In the meantime, the commuting public is reminded that one of the dangers of using unlicenced public passenger vehicles and Hackney Carriages operating as route taxis, is that operators often charge exorbitant/unapproved fares. The Authority is therefore urging the commuting public to use licenced public transport vehicles which display red public passenger vehicle plates and the light blue Transport Authority sticker on the windshield with expiration dates of 2026 and beyond. -30- Contact: Corporate Communications Department Tel: (876) 618-0859/277-9671
