Jersey’s Road Safety Panel meets quarterly to discuss issues including speed limits, the placement of pedestrian crossings and proposed changes to driving licences.
Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel announced last year that a UK-style points system for penalising those who commit motoring offences is being considered and that an overhaul of road safety measures had been discussed by senior civil servants, Constables and the honorary and States police.
Tim Parker-Garner, chairman of the Jersey Road Safety Panel, said that he would welcome a points-based penalty system.
‘I know the Infrastructure Minister is looking at introducing penalty points in Jersey and I think that would assist in making people think about the choices they are making when driving.
‘If someone knows they are going to get three points on their licence, then it might act as more of a deterrent rather than just going to a parish hall inquiry.
‘I think a points system and stricter penalties would definitely make people think more about what they do in their car,’ he said.
Prison? Me? No Way!, which raises awareness about the causes and consequences of crime among young people, are lobbying for safer roads in the Island through their Arrive Alive project.
Aimed at young drivers, the scheme’s leaders hope to reduce the number of people speeding, drink-driving, using their mobile phones behind the wheel and getting lifts in unregulated vehicles.
Mr Parker-Garner said: ‘We need to help young people become safer in their cars. They must remember that doing something dangerous behind the wheel can end up killing someone.
‘A mobile phone isn’t just a phone nowadays – it can do everything and we have a long way to go in terms of policing around people using them behind the wheel. It’s something we are learning about more and more all the time.’
He added that having so many speed limits across Jersey – 40, 30, 20 and 15 mph – was not helpful for motorists.
The Infrastructure Department is responsible for deciding speed limits for main roads in the Island.
‘The Island doesn’t do itself any justice by having all these different speed limits,’ said Mr Parker-Garner.
‘There should be something that makes it easier for motorists to know what speeds the roads are. I think the little smiley faces that are used in parishes help deter people from speeding. A lot of people will slow down because they are aware of other cars behind them and will not want people to see how fast they are travelling.’
