2009 will be remembered in Jamaica as a year filled with triumph and adversity, successes and failures, economic downfall, the swine flu epidemic and the year we ruled Berlin. It was a bittersweet journey that has now come to an end.

Powerful solutions in 2010 are what we need to combat the issues that we faced in 2009. One of the biggest challenges we faced as a nation was trying to limit the number of fatalities on our roads.

At the beginning of the year, the Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport made clear its aim of having less than 300 road fatalities for the year. However, we failed to go below the 300 mark with a total of 334 recorded fatalities for the year. Though this is nine fewer deaths than in 2008 and 16 fewer than in 2007, we failed because for the ninth straight year road fatalities went above the 300 mark.

And the sad part is, many of these accidents could have been avoided.

Several factors contributed to the high number of fatalities. These include; The use of drugs and alcohol by drivers before or during driving, overloading vehicles, speeding, not taking proper safety measures like wearing seatbelts and helmets, not using car seats for children, not paying careful attention to the road while driving, and improper use of roadways by pedestrians.

Towards the last half of the year we were bombarded with news of hit-and-run accidents. Several young lives were taken away because the drivers who hit them didn’t even bother to stop.

Drivers who find themselves in such a situation may choose not to stop because they fear that “jungle justice” may prevail and lead to them being severely beaten by citizens in the community where the accident takes place.

Other drivers simply refuse to stop because they fear prosecution from the law and are not ready to deal with the possible consequences of their actions. Others choose not to stop, but drive to the nearest police station to turn themselves in several hours after the incident. It is sad enough when animals are hit down on our roads and left for dead, but how can the same be done to human beings? Many lives could have been saved if drivers stopped and assisted the victims to the nearest hospital to receive medical attention.

2010 is not the time for us to cry over spilt milk. It is, instead, the time we should take to reflect on 2009 and be proactive in transforming our failures into successes. As a nation let us strive for improved safety on our roads, let us exercise more kindness and courtesy to other drivers and pedestrians and show more appreciation and concern for human life.

Let us encourage our friends and family members to be careful and responsible road users. We can limit the number of road fatalities in 2010 to fewer than 300 by making a conscious decision to do so and engaging in a collective effort to make our roads safer.

As TEENagers we too have an important role to play in keeping the road fatalities below 300 in 2010.

As young, inexperienced drivers we should pay special attention while driving. TEEN drivers should refrain from drinking alcohol before and during driving. As TEENs we are four times more likely to have an alcohol-related crash than any other driver. TEENs are of the common misconception that we can drive after having a few cups or bottles of beer once we do not “feel” drunk.

Research conducted for the Traffic Safety and Alcohol Programme by L Maffetti and D Winter in the United States shows that the alcohol in a 12 ounce can or bottle of beer can slow a driver’s reaction by two-fifths of a second. This will lead a vehicle travelling at 55 miles per hour to travel an additional 34 feet, which is crucial space that will determine a near miss or a crash.

When you go out to parties ensure that the designated driver refrains from consuming alcoholic beverages. This is a stance we must take to help reduce the number of accidents and, by extension, fatalities on our roads.

World wars, epidemics and natural disasters are all threats to our lives, but are the least of our worries because we have little or no control over them. When it comes to accidents on our roads everyone can help in the prevention. Every red light observed, every speed limit obeyed and every pedestrian crossing properly utilised can make a difference.

In order for this feat to be a success everyone must take part; drivers, pedestrians, pedalcyclists and motorcyclists. TEENage implores every Jamaican to join in the campaign for courtesy and safety on our roads in 2010. Remember, speed kills, so slow down and save lives.