New rules of the road

THE EDITOR: On December 12, the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Anthony Carmona, ORTT, SC, assented to the new amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Ch 48:50 (MVRT Act). These changes provide a legislative platform for an increase in speed limits across TT.

Over the last decade, the road network throughout TT has changed significantly. It has expanded to accommodate new motorways, additional lanes, interchanges and shoulders in various areas. In fact, the Churchill Roosevelt, Sir Solomon Hochoy, Uriah Butler and Beetham Highways are actually designed for a maximum safe travel speed of 110km/h.

When re-evaluating the driving speed limits in TT, the Ministry of Works and Transport considered the following factors:

1. The traffic engineering principle that drivers should be encouraged to drive in accordance with the intended speed for which a road or highway is designed;

2. Pedestrian activity; and

3. The need to create and produce a harmonious relationship among the posted speed, design speed and operational speed.

Today, I am proud to state that we have successfully adjusted our nation’s speed limits to improve the flow of traffic on our nation’s roadways. This adjustment requires all users to exercise responsibility on the roadways and compliance with the new speed limits.

I encourage us all to familiarise ourselves with the following changes to the MVRT Act:

a) If you drive a private motor car, motorcycle or goods vehicle (“T” registered) where the maximum gross weight (MGW) is less than 3,200kg and without a trailer, the speed limit along the Churchill Roosevelt, Sir Solomon Hochoy, Uriah Butler and Beetham Highways is 100km/h. Whereas, the speed limit is 65km/h for those vehicles listed in paragraph (d) below.

b) If you drive the abovementioned vehicles listed in paragraph (a) along the Audrey Jeffers Highway, Diego Martin Highway, the Eastern Main Road, Sangre Grande, commonly known as the “Valencia Stretch,” Reinzi-Kirton Highway and South Trunk Road Ext, the speed limit is 80 km/h. Whereas, the speed limit is 65km/h for those vehicles listed in paragraph (d) below.

c) In Tobago, if you drive the abovementioned vehicles listed in paragraph (a) along the Claude Noel Highway, Shirvan Road (from Claude Noel Highway Highway to Grafton Road) and along Auchenskeoch Road (from Shirvan Junction to Montgomery Bay), the speed limit is 80 km/h. Whereas the speed limit is 65km/h for those vehicles listed in paragraph (d) below.

d) If you drive a bus, a vehicle designed to carry ten (10) or more passengers, a private motor car with a trailer, a goods vehicle where the MGW is more than 3,200kg with or without a trailer, a goods vehicle where the MGW is less than 3,200kg and has a trailer outside a built-up area (a highway), the speed limit is 65km/h and within a built-up area the speed limit is 50km/h.

e) For all PTSC buses, maxi taxis or any vehicle designed to carry ten passengers or more, the speed limit is 65km/h outside a built up area (a highway) and 50km/h within a built up area.

f) For all roads throughout TT excluding those specifically mentioned in the Special Speed Limits (Amendment) Order, 2017, the speed limit remains at 50km/h.

g) If you drive a Tractor, along a highway, the speed limit is 35km/h and in a built-up area the speed limit is 20 km/h.

I invite members of the public to visit the Ministry of Works and Transport website, www.mowt.gov.tt, and social media pages to peruse the amendments in full.

I wish to take this opportunity to highlight the TT Police Service’s success in monitoring and regulating the speed limit with the introduction of speed gun technology and I expect, with their sustained diligence, we will see compliance becoming the norm.

It is a fact that no one can measure the price of human suffering due to the accidents on our nation’s roads. As we approach the Christmas and Carnival seasons, we at the Ministry would like to appeal to all road users to be mindful of the new speed limits and how it applies to you and the type of vehicle you operate. Collectively, our efforts will contribute to achieving our set target of zero road fatalities by 2020.

Season’s Greetings to all.

SENATOR THE HONOURABLE ROHAN SINANAN, Minister of Works and Transport