Vice-Chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Dr Lucien Jones, says the new traffic-ticketing system has been achieving significant success since its implementation.

"We have a new ticketing system and already over 700,000 tickets have been issued within the last 18 months, worth $1.6 billion, and of that $682 million has been collected and if we look at what is presently in the courts, 70 per cent is already accounted for," he said.

The new system allows the police to use a hand-held device to track motorists who have outstanding tickets.

Speaking at the NRSC press briefing and launch of the national road-safety poster competition, at Jamaica House, recently, the vice-chairman said road safety is a matter of grave importance and, as such, the council, in its continued drive to reduce road fatalities, will be intensifying its public-education thrust.

He said talks are under way regarding the Spirits Licence Act "to protect our children from being ushered into the use of alcohol too early, and we are going to be working with the various ministries to start a new emergency response system."

Jones noted that discussions are also under way regarding an electronic surveillance system. "We can't have a policeman on every corner of the road, so we have to begin to use the technology," he added.

He called on Jamaicans to refrain from drinking alcohol and driving, and to desist from exceeding the speed limit.

"All of us have to use the road and all of us have been touched by relatives and friends who have died. This does not have to happen, so we are here standing in the gap to ensure that we continue to reduce death and fatalities on the road," he said.

For his part, chief executive officer, National Health Fund, Hugh Lawson, said educating the public about road safely is essential.

He said the fund will continue to support the work of the NRSC, adding that "we approved in our last budget $14.5 million to support the NRSC".