The Editor, Sir:

With the carnage on our roads continuing at such a an alarming rate, and the domino effect that these accidents are having on our nation in terms of the loss of life, property, strain on our limited health services, I am at a loss as to why there seems to be no clear policy as to how we will stem this flow.

Sir, we don't have to look far to see the root cause of our problem. There is, evidently, little or no restriction on who can be the driver of a public passenger vehicle. A quick survey of the drivers of the route taxis, mini busses and other public passenger vehicles will prove my point.

I am calling on the minister of transport to look at expanding the role of the transport authority to not only regulate the licensing of the motor vehicles but also have responsibility to regulate those who wish to be the drivers of these vehicles.

Apart from holding a driver's licence, it must be a criteria that these drivers satisfy certain minimum standards such as years of driving experience, passing defensive driving tests administered by the transport authority and a medical exam, which will test for vision, the use of drugs etc.

Sir, these are measures that does not require much to be implemented.

I am, etc.,

DELROY GRAHAM

dgraham@cockcu.com

Mandeville