Whilst driving home from work and listening to the evening news on the radio; one news item reported a horrendous motor vehicle crash. A Toyota Hiace minibus crashed into a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and overturned whilst overtaking a line of traffic. Five persons were killed in this crash including the driver. Doesn’t that make you angry? There was senseless loss of lives because some driver was in a rush or too impatient to wait in a line of traffic. All those families are now burdened with a tragedy that will change their lives forever. Five (5 persons) who had yet to make their mark on the world. Who knows how they could have touched our lives?, and the dependants left behind, how will they survive?

These five (5) persons are not alone. They are joined by over 300 persons who lose their lives every year on Jamaica’s roads. Others are injured in road crashes but survive. However, many of the injured are left permanently disabled or have lost their ability to work and support their families, and are forced to live below the poverty level. Road Safety is an ECONOMIC issue. Road Safety is a HEALTH issue. Road Safety is a SOCIAL issue. Road Safety is a DEVELOPMENTAL issue. We must be cognizant of the multi-pronged problem that one crash brings about and then practice safe habits on our roads that will make for a downward slide in the fatality rate which means less loss of lives.

We are all aware that plans to fight crime, provide medical care and good educational system are critical items for good governance, however, the Road Safety Committee of the JGRA suggests that the Jamaican Government, businesses and citizens must place Road Safety on the priority list also, if development is to be attained.

The Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association has been promoting and participating in road safety awareness activities for thirty (30) years. In 1990, the JGRA was successful in having the month of June declared as National Road Safety Awareness Month by the then Governor General, Sir Florizel Glasspole.

On an annual basis, the Road Safety Committee has carried the mantle of the JGRA focusing on and highlighting good road safety practices to all road users. Various activities have been engaged in to drive home the message of road safety; with the aim of encouraging every road user to take our theme seriously “ROAD SAFETY FOR LIFE”.

Projects that make up our Calendar of Events are:

Defensive Driving Seminars

Repainting Crosswalks

Replacing Road Signage

Conducting talks in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force to school children

Conducting Blood Drives in partnership with the National Blood Transfusion Service – One hundred units of blood have been collected so far.

This year we have added Defensive Riding Seminars to our slate of activities as motorcyclists are showing the highest fatality rate on our roads; we are making an effort to lower the rate of fatalities amongst this category of road users by:

1.Conduct Defensive Riding Seminars in collaboration with the Jamaica Motorcycle Association

2.Engage riders n a “Ride for Life” islandwide relay

3.Educate riders about the importance of safety gear (especially helmets)

4.Educate other road users that motorcyclists are legitimate road users and should be afforded respect.

5.Lobby for legislation so that it will become compulsory for riders to obtain a motorcycle license equivalent to that required by drivers of other motor vehicles.

The JGRA will continue to educate the general public on safe road practices, as one life lost is one too many……… as we continue to encourage all Jamaicans to practise “ROAD SAFETY FOR LIFE”.