The Editor, Sir:

We need to move our traffic police from under roadside trees and put them on the road. They must have equipment and training, about 50 more motorbikes and patrol cars, marked and un-marked.

Two officers and about four sub-officers should be sent for training on how to patrol the highways. Near to us is the Florida Highway patrol; I am sure they would help with the training. When they return, they could train a squad of young constables, and place them on the right track.

From every group of trainees, 25 should be recruited for the Traffic Dept., kept back another month and taught the rudiments of traffic laws and then dispatched to the various areas.

We should get officers from behind their desks to go out and see that everything that should be done is being done. There should also be rotation in this dept.

Back in the old days when police and motor vehicle examiners used to work at checkpoints, all the defective vehicles and vehicles with bad tyres, and other mechanical defects were taken off the road. We were safer then.

On going to Montego Bay from Port Maria I did not see one traffic police on the 'North Coast Highway.' I was told there was no proper tree on this road.

I am, etc.,

J. H. WOODUM

jh_woodhum