Jamaica switches on demerit-points system, putting drivers on notice

Jamaican authorities have moved to operationalize the long-discussed demerit-points system, a road-safety regime that attaches penalty points to traffic offences and can ultimately cost repeat offenders their licences. The Ministry of Transport laid out the mechanics at a late-June briefing, part of a broader push that officials tie to a stubborn fatality count on the island’s roads this year. For Jamaicans abroad who drive when they visit, the practical takeaway is simple: enforcement is tightening, and the rules now carry cumulative consequences rather than one-off fines.

Source: Jamaica Information Service, Jamaica Observer (June 26-29, 2026).