Jamaica Driver's Education Handbook: A Comprehensive Driver Training Guide

By Junior E.W. Chin

 JAMAICA'S FIRST BEGINNER TO ADVANCED DRIVER TRAINING HANDBOOK!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jamaica Driver's Education Handbook
• Release date: Nov 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781738683710

Junior E.W. Chin

Junior Chin is the founder of Jamaica Driver's Education Forum and the Chief Training Officer at New Method Driving Academy Jamaica. Junior is a Canadian Certified Driving Instructor who was trained by Humber College of Canada in partnership with Canadian Pro-Drivers. He was a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union- Local 113, where he worked with the largest Transit company in Canada, The Toronto Transit Commission. He currently operates locally under the New Method Driving Academy brand and also operates a Ministry-Approved Driving school in over eight cities across Ontario, Canada, where he has trained hundreds of novice and experienced drivers alike. It is his vision to use his knowledge, skills and expertise to enhance and improve Driver Education in his homeland, Jamaica.

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CHAPTER 1:

OBTAINING YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE

This chapter outlines the steps of acquiring your provisional and general driver’s licenses, upgrading them to another weight and size classification, and keeping them in good standing with the law.

The best way to maintain a healthy driving record is to always remember that "Driving is a privilege, not a right." The privileges could be removed if you fail to live up to your expectations under the law.

The decision to acquire your driver’s license is a very important one. After you do, you will join the millions of Jamaicans who operate motor vehicles on the Jamaican roadways.

After acquiring your provisional (learner’s) driver’s license, your next step will be to acquire a Driver Training Education from a government-approved Driving School to prepare you not only to succeed at passing your driving exam but also to prepare you for a safe future on the Jamaican roads.

Therefore, the method you choose to learn the art of driving will be proven worthy over time.

Getting your Provisional (learners)Driver’s license

As of January 25th, 2020, individuals who wish to obtain a (provisional) learner’s license must first sit and succeed at a theoretical road code test at one of the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) examination depot offices island wide.

For a list of Island Traffic Authority examination locations, please visit: www.mtm.gov.jm.

The road code testing delivery format is currently a multiple-choice quiz, and the applicant must attain a 75% or higher mark to succeed.

The applicant will be allowed to sit the road code test after submitting to the ITA the completed application form along with three identical, certified photographs.

The applicant can retrieve a physical application form from the Island Traffic Authority or Tax Administration Jamaica Office or an electronic copy from the website of the Ministry of Transport and mining or TAJ.

The road code test aims to test the knowledge of each applicant on the basic rules and laws that governs the way our roadways are used and shared. The test applies to those persons who wish to operate a motor car or motorcycle.

Failing the road code test and Re- testing

If the applicant fails the test, they can request a retest from the examiner, who will issue a new test date appointment to return to the ITA examination depot for re-testing.

After successfully passing the road code test, the learner’s license will be issued when the applicant takes the documents they received from the Island Traffic Authority office to Tax Administration Office and pay the prescribed fees.

Renewing an expired Provisional license

If the holder of a Provisional Driver’s license was issued the license before January 24th, 2020, and the license becomes expired, they will be required to sit the road code test upon renewal of the license. However, if the learner’s license was obtained on or after January 25, 2020, and a road code test has already been done, the holder will be allowed to pay the required renewal fees along with the additional documents and be issued with a new provisional driver’s license without having to re-sit a road code test.

Legal requirements of a Provisional Driver’s License

The only legal time the holder of a provisional driver’s license should operate a motor vehicle is when accompanied by or under the supervision of a fully licensed driver. The fully licensed driver must have possessed their driver’s license for at least three years.

Both the supervising and learner driver should always have in their possession their licenses which permit them to operate the motor vehicle.

The Blood Alcohol content of the learner and supervising driver at the instruction time should be 0%.

The Learner driver is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle for hire or any other commercial purposes to include in the capacity of a public passenger vehicle (PPV).

Getting your General Driver’s license

Individuals who wish to obtain their driver’s license must satisfy the following requirements:

• The applicant must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the application

• The applicant must have a valid provisional (learners) driver’s license at the time of the application

• The applicant must provide three recently taken identical passport-sized photographs certified by a Justice of the peace

• The applicant must successfully pass a theoretical road code and driving skills test along with a practical driving test

• The applicant must provide proof of identity, age and residence by supplying their birth certificate along with a government-issued identification which can include Passport, national identification cards, firearms licenses, etc.

• A completed medical certificate from a registered medical doctor which should prove that the applicant is fit to operate a motor vehicle, or which otherwise outlines the conditions under which the applicant can safely operate motor vehicles

• Pay the required licensing fees

Important: It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle above the weight and size classification you are qualified and licensed to drive. That is, if you have a license restricting you to motor cars not exceeding 2500 kg, you should never operate another motor vehicle outside the 2500 kg weight class. This is not only an unsafe and illegal practice but also a liability as it places your life and the life of other road users at risk.

If you wish to operate a vehicle outside of your licensed classification, it is recommended that you pursue the relevant training to safely operate such vehicles.

The only time you are legally permitted to operate a vehicle outside your licensed class is when you are being trained, accompanied, or supervised by another driver already a licensed driver for the weight class you are pursuing.

The Driving Test

Your driving test will be a pivotal moment in your driver education phase. Acquiring your driver’s license as a new driver is an exciting, thrilling and life-changing experience.

Therefore, investing in a Ministry-Approved driver education training program is important to ensure you are properly prepared for your driving exam and that a safe future on the country’s roadways.

Your driving exam will be divided into two main categories. You will need to succeed in both areas to be successful at passing the exams. The two sections are:

• A multiple-choice road code and driving skills testing (Theory)

• In-Vehicle driving component (Practical)

Before your test begins, your examiner will brief you on what is expected of you during each phase of testing. Your examiner will never ask you to perform any unsafe or unlawful task that will risk your life or any other road user’s life.

Your driving test will require you to perform a series of maneuvers, including reversing, parallel parking, parking on a grade (hill park), left and right turn on residential streets and at major intersections, turn abouts and driving on city streets.

Throughout the test, the examiner will observe your ability to communicate with other road users and properly control the motor vehicle along the roadway, observe the bigger picture approach by assessing and analyzing your surroundings, scan intersections, yielding to pedestrians and cyclists, observing the right of way when necessary and finally testing your ability to safely and efficiently perform all maneuvers independently while adhering to all the laws set out under the Road Traffic Act.

If at any point in the test you do not understand the directions being communicated to you, politely ask the examiner to repeat the instructions. Do not assume.

Remember, panicking or becoming overly anxious can cloud your judgement and complicate seemingly easy tasks. You can say something funny to break the ice and set yourself at ease. Remain calm and dig deep into your memory bank for the lessons you were taught during training; think of safety and drive responsibly.

CHAPTER 2:

DRIVING SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY

Let’s discuss fundamental road safety and responsibility guidelines you should