ON A DAY WHEN THE NATION MISSED ITS ROAD SAFETY TARGET, NRSC CALLS FOR JAMAICANS TO DOUBLE EFFORTS TO ENSURE SAFER ROADS Kingston, Jamaica – October 30, 2013: While bemoaning that the nation today missed the road safety target of ensuring that fewer than 240 lives are lost on the roads this year, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has appealed to Jamaicans to double their efforts in exercising responsible road usage to prevent more mayhem. The Council is also stressing the need for the swift passage of the new Road Traffic Act, before the end of the year. 13 % INCREASE IN ROAD FATALITIES The appeal from the Council comes at a time when the nation has experienced 240 deaths and 214 crashes, since the start of the year. Between January 1 and October 30 this year, in comparison to the corresponding period last year, road deaths have increased by 28 and crashes have increased by 27, representing a 13 per cent and 14 percent increase respectively. NEED FOR SWIFT PASSAGE OF NEW ROAD SAFETY ACT “The new Road Traffic Act has been in the making for nine years now and we need its passage as soon as possible. I understand that the completed Bill was sent by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing (MTWH), and has been forwarded to Cabinet,” Dr. Lucien Jones, Vice Chairman / Convenor, NRSC outlined. “There is absolutely no time for delay, and I am urging Parliamentarians to act expeditiously in passing the Bill, once it comes before them.” The new Road Traffic Act will make it easier for the authorities to penalise delinquent motorists. Currently the Road Traffic Act does not allow the Island Traffic Authority to suspend or revoke drivers’ licences. However, the Court is allowed to do this under certain circumstances. NEW ROAD SAFETY TOOLS WILL COME WITH NEW ROAD TRAFFIC ACT The Council pointed out that it and its partner organizations have optimised their present road safety strategies, but there is dire need for the new tools, which will come into effect, once the new Road Traffic Act comes into being. Some of these tools to stem crashes will speak to the matter of cell phones while driving, the implementation of an international tyre standard, certification of Driving Instructors and a Graduated Drivers Licensing System (GDLS). Under the GDLS, prospective Learner Drivers must pass the road code before being issued a learner’s permit. EVERY JAMAICAN MUST PLAY A PART Additionally, the NRSC Vice Chairman is emphasizing that it is important that each Jamaican, every family, every community, every civic group and private and public sector organization play a role in ensuring improved safety on the roads. “This year we have seen many multiple road fatalities which could be avoided. The roads will only be safe if every pedestrian, motorist and commuter does all in his/her power to make it safe. We need to stop thinking it’s the other person’s responsibility and take charge of our responsibility in making the island’s roads a safer place,” urged Dr. Jones. He said while the NRSC has been proactively reminding Jamaicans through its public education programmes of the need to exercise greater care and caution on the roads, individual organizations and families need to do more in driving home the road safety message. Dr. Jones also noted the far reaching public education campaign of the MTWH being currently undertaken, and co-sponsored by the NRSC as well as the National Health Fund to drive home the urgent need for behaviour change. “We are all stakeholders in keeping Jamaica’s roads safe and this partnership can only work if everyone gets committed to the task,” Dr. Jones explained. ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE NEEDED NOW The NRSC is also calling on the government to introduce electronic surveillance of roadways. This move, the Council believes, would act as a deterrent to many motorists. “It is impossible to have a policeman on every corner. Therefore, electronic surveillance would not only act as a deterrent, but provide the police with further tools to track down and penalising offending drivers,“ stated Paula Fletcher, Executive Director of the NRSC. Mrs. Fletcher is of the view that, as a preliminary step, the policy and legislative framework for this system needs to be put in place. This will greatly supplement the resources of the police. The NRSC is reminding the public that the loss of life and injury of each citizen results in tremendous pain and grief, a burden on the health sector and it creates a ripple effect in terms of loss of production in Jamaica. ROAD SAFETY TARGET FOR 2013-2016 This year, the NRSC established the new annual road safety target of 240 road fatalities, for 2013 - 2016, in light of the significant reduction in road fatalities, which the island experienced last year. The objective is to encourage the reduction in road deaths to fewer than 240 each year, and the slogan reflecting that goal is: “BELOW 240, Jamaica can do it!” During 2012, Jamaica recorded 260 road fatalities. The NRSC Executive Director asserted that in spite of the reality that Jamaica has missed the below 240 target for 2013, “road users should do all they can to stem the alarming upward trend in road crashes and deaths being experienced this year. Many of these deaths are preventable. Let us stop the flow of blood on our roads – that decision lies with each and every one of us.”
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:14:17 +0000
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