Nearly 20K vehicles licensed in 2023
Transportation Minister Kye Rymer has announced that there is a concerning rise in the licensing of motor vehicles and scooters, pushing the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to urge motorists to take safety precautions on the territory’s roads.
Minister Rymer said some 19,982 vehicles were licensed in 2023, setting a new record for vehicle registrations in the territory.
He said this surge in registrations highlights a growing trend in the community’s vehicle ownership, adding that the government applauds this trend. The minister said there has also been an increase in the number of scooters and motorcycles — two modes of transportation that traditionally cause problems in the community.
“In 2022, 213 motorcycles and scooters were licensed, that number escalated to 349 in 2023. Despite this uptick, there remains a substantial presence of uninsured and unlicensed vehicles, bikes and scooters on our roads.,” Minister Rymer told the House of Assembly earlier this week.
To address this issue, the DMV has announced that they will be launching a two-day bike drive aimed at promoting insurance and licensing for motorcycles and scooters. This initiative will educate riders on safety measures and foster responsible road-sharing behaviours.
According to Minister Rymer, during the bike drive, participants will benefit from informative lectures on safety practices and road-sharing etiquette. They will also have the opportunity to undergo both written and practical tests on site.
“Moreover, individuals can conveniently insure and license their motorcycles and scooters during this event. For those interested, it is essential to note that scooter insurance costs approximately $250 on average, with an annual licensing fee of $35. We strongly encourage all bikers within our beautiful Virgin Islands to seize this chance to prioritize their safety and adhere to legal obligations,” the Minister said.
The rise in new motor vehicles may be seen as a positive trend for many, as a significant number of residents lost their vehicles during the 2017 hurricanes. These disasters led to a record number of derelicts right after the disasters — an issue the government is still dealing with today.
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Get real. How many of the useless monkey deadbeats do you really think will attend a lecture on safe practices and road safety etiquette. Has the makings for a great comedy show if it wasn’t so tragically sad.
If you want to sort out the unlicenced and uninsured cars and bikes, crack down hard and enforce the law.
Utterly pathetic. The government is beyond useless in all areas except corruption.
Monkey deadbeats? Racist much? BVI News please do better with your comment moderation or turn off your comments. That is unacceptable language on an online news site. Do better! What will be next n***er deadbeats??? Fix it, BVI news, fix it.
It’s not racist, it’s the truth. And while we’re on that subject, BVI is one of the most xenophobic territories on the planet, that treats most expats like dirt.
We could be celebrating an increase in revenue and using that to fix some pot-holes. But no, this becomes a “concerning rise”. Why???
lol relax, it raises issues re: disposal of old and derilict vehicles as well as traffic and infrastructure issues ie lack of parking, sufficient roadways for the number of vehicles on the road, traffic flow etc
20,000 cars for a Territory of fewer than 40,000. One car for every two residents. For reference, US has about 300,000 registered vehicles in a nation of 300 million, or one per 1000 residents.
This many cars raises the issues of their ultimate disposal, and suggests that effective public transport should be given serious consideration. It’ll never happen though
No, the USA has 283.4 million vehicles registered for a population of 332 million people.
@wow Your made-up statistics don’t even make sense. Ford alone sold 700,000 trucks last year and you really think the US only has 300,000 cars registered? Strupes
you are wrong in the math the US has 283 million registered cars in 2022
lets not get to that
we do however need to raise registration cost to a level that will pay for roads and parking lots signage and DMV employees.
the current registration fee does not cover a fraction of that.
it should cost 1000$ a year to have a car and big trucks that put all the wear and tear on roads should be 10000$
HE NEED TO FIX THE DOGGONE ROAD THEM FROM CHATTING SHT
19K new vehicles registered but how many of that 19k were private vehicles vs company vehicles, govt vehicles, taxis etc
also while we’re concerned about the disposal of old vehicles, maybe we should make it where when persons go to register a new vehicle while already having a vehicle registered in their name, they must show proof of appropriate disposal (ie sale, sending away, giving away) or proof that they intend to use both vehicles or something of the sort?
Can’t find a bloody park no where. Close the floodgates!
think the phrase, useless “dead beat monkeys,” is a racial INSULT right out of the bowels of a racist white person living here.
This site to often condones racism towards the local BLACK PEOPLE.
But, they will probably not post this like they. posted his/hers.
Many were rentals? 19,981? Is there any country on earth with as many rental cars??
The island needs a junkyard and a smasher of old vechicles. The islands also could use a big parking lot in Road Town as there is never any parking.
That should be a payed parking Garage needed in Road Town. That would solve the parking issues while earning some revenue.
now how many are unregistered but operational?
That’s expected when there’s no proper public transport system. Traffic in the next 5 years will be a nightmare.
Got sit your lieing two-faced self down
Have lots of unlicense drivers & vehicles on public roads