‘Defensive driving test for all... soon’

Defensive driving tests will soon become mandatory for all new drivers once the provision for the law, which is before the Attorney General, is passed. Transport Commissioner, Nathaniel Douglas, made the disclosure during an interview with Sunday Newsday last week, in light of the National Transport System study, which will be done by international transportation consultants, in conjunction with the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Douglas pointed out that some 20 years ago, defensive driving was mandatory for all motorists and admitted that since this was removed, the standard of driving across TT has fallen, a major reason for the many vehicular accidents over the past years. So far, there have been 97 road fatalities. last year’s figure around this period of the year had surpassed this year’s with 101 fatalities. He also noted that defensive driving certification has become popular in recent times, especially from private companies which employ drivers. “The Ministry and the Transport Commission have proposed a defensive driving certification programme as part of the testing of first-time drivers. The only delay in this, however, is that we are awaiting the legal framework,  which will be put in place shortly,” he said.

Douglas added that apart from this, all driving schools and instructors that are teaching people to drive, must hold defensive driving certificates and have a formal class facility/school, with appropriate teaching aids such as electronics, computers and videos, which will also be certified by the Licensing Authority. “Therefore, if standards fall, or if drivers and driving instructors breach the regulations, the Transport Commissioner could de-certify such persons,” he said. Douglas recalled that the defensive driving programme, which was in place 20 years ago, ensured that driving instructors passed every regulation and if any was breached, the instructor would have been immediately de-certified. “That was stopped and what was introduced in its place, was that once one held a driving permit for three years, the person was able to teach driving,” he said. He noted that the previous system was of a much higher standard, and would be re-introduced with significant improvements.