The Toll Authority says it is moving to advance existing plans to expand the number of JCF service vehicles with the electronic access, beyond the PSTEB, Highway Patrol Unit.
The unit has responsibility, for monitoring the North-South Highway.
The position of the Toll Authority follows renewed concerns about access to the toll roads by emergency vehicles.
This followed the death of Police Constable Donald Carr.
He died in a car crash near Golden Grove St. Ann, on Saturday (April 30), evening.
The Toll Authority today (May 2), sought to clarify the matter of emergency vehicles’ access to the toll roads
In a statement today, the Toll Authority said while it awaits the formal report detailing the circumstances surrounding the crash, preliminary reports from the operators indicate that the vehicle which collected the injured officer and transported him to the St. Ann’s Bay Hospital, had to pay at one toll booth but was given free access to exit at another, once the situation was explained to the attendant.
It said protocol dictates that an attendant must seek approval from a supervisor in order to grant the toll exemption.
This process is usually done in less than 90 seconds.
The Toll Authority said media reports about a delay of up to four hours are inaccurate.
It said it must be noted that gaining access to the north-south highway is automatic for all users and a toll card is issued at the point of entry and it is only upon exit that toll payment would be required.
The Toll Authority said the North-South Concession Agreement states that: “…subject to procedures to be jointly established by the parties, cars or other vehicles belonging to the Jamaican Emergency Services shall be exempt from the obligation to pay tolls when they are on duty”.
It said this means once an emergency vehicle which is on duty presents itself at the toll plazas, there should be no requirement for payment.
The statement further adds that preliminary reports from the operators concerning the incident, state that there was no issue in the Public Safety & Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) Highway Patrol Unit gaining access to the highway to attend to the crash site.
It said as first responders, members of PSTEB maintain electronic access to the toll roads.
The Authority said having consulted with the Minister of Transport Audley Shaw, as well as the Chairman of the Authority, it is moving to advance existing plans to expand the number of JCF Service vehicles with the electronic access beyond the PSTEB Highway Patrol Unit, which currently has responsibility for monitoring the North-South Highway.
Mr. Shaw has also committed to a further detailed review of the policies and procedures.