Road safety tips from the police
KINGSTON, Jamaica – As the Yuletide season reaches its peak, the police are urging members of the public to be mindful of road safety practices.
Chief among these is to always have a designated driver, as the tendency during the merriment of the season is to consume alcohol. Besides being illegal in most instances, the consumption of alcoholic drinks, even in moderation, is extremely debilitating for drivers, and many crashes have resulted from the poor judgement and increased response times that alcohol use causes.
In addition, persons are being urged to refrain from driving when extremely tired or have a state of mind that makes absolute focus on the task at hand difficult.
Additionally, drivers are reminded to:
Obey the speed limit
Ensure all passengers are properly secured in the motor vehicle using seatbelts, car seats or booster seats.
Ensure vehicles are roadworthy
A special appeal is also being made to pedestrians. They are being reminded of the following:
Make sure you can be easily seen at all times, especially at night. Light-coloured clothes are recommended.
Cross the road at the safest place possible; use a pedestrian crossing whenever possible
As much as possible, choose routes that are well-lit by streetlights for maximum visibility.
With 23 road crashes resulting in the deaths of 25 persons since the start of December, the Police are reminding persons that the data indicate that human error is the cause in many of these incidents. As such, drivers are being reminded that it is in their best interest to obey the rules of the road and drive with due care and courtesy for other road users. The full force of the law will be brought to those who fail to uphold the law.