Road fatalities down 26 per cent
DEATHS on the island’s roads have fallen by 26 per cent so far this year compared to the same period in 2009, reports the Road Safety Unit.
“The Road Safety Unit is profoundly pleased with the efforts made by all road users to join the road safety train which will ensure that road fatalities end up below 300 this year,” said a release from the Ministry of Transport today.
However, the unit also sounded a warning about the continued disregard by road users concerning the wearing of child restraints, seatbelts and helmets.
Eighteen male motorcyclists and 10 male pedal cyclists have been killed this and none were wearing helmets. According to the unit 20 per cent of those fatalities could have been prevented had they been wearing helmets.
“These road users must understand that it is important for them to protect their head by wearing the helmet. Even though it is not mandatory for pedal cyclist to wear helmets, the Unit is beseeching them to wear this protective device whenever they operate in the traffic environment. We would greatly appreciate it, if motor cyclists across Jamaica make a concerted effort to wear their helmet every time.”
The unit also called upon police to enforce the law and ensure that all motorcyclists wear protective helmets.
Pedestrian fatalities is the only category to have worsened, having increased by 8 per cent this year. The unit is advising pedestrians to heed the following road safety tips.
• Don’t play on the road;
• Wear light coloured clothing at nights so that they are very visible to motorists;
• Cross at designated points that are available, including
pedestrian crossings or traffic signals;
• Obey the traffic lights and desist from disrupting traffic;
• Walk on the right side of the road where no sidewalk exists;
• Wait on the motor vehicle to stop before venturing into the traffic environment.
The unit also wants Jamaicans to report reckless drivers by calling the police at 119.
We have to clean up the traffic environment which must be done as we unite to ensure that no more Jamaicans die on our roads. Presently, over J$40 million dollars have been spent by families across Jamaica to bury relatives killed in traffic crashes.