What's left of the car which crashed in Runaway Bay early Christmas morning
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Police Commissioner Antony Anderson and Dr Lucien Jones, Vice Chairman, National Road Safety Council
The police are reporting six fatal crashes in Jamaica over the last 36 hours.
The crashes occurred in Kingston, St Andrew, St Ann and St Catherine.
The age of those who died range from 15 to 65 years old.
In one of the crashes early Christmas Day, a man died and two women are in critical condition at hospital.
The crash occurred along the Runaway Bay main road.
Devroy Raymond, 29, of Mount Edgecombe, Runaway Bay died in the crash which happened sometime after 6 o'clock in the vicinity of Bahia Principe Hotel.
The occupants of the vehicle were returning home from a party when he lost control of the vehicle which hit a concrete structure before overturning.
He had to be cut from the wreckage by members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade.
Two other fatal crashes in St Ann on Friday claimed two more lives.
Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, in response to these crashes, is urging motorists to be extra vigilant over the holiday.
Road Safety Council
In that connection, the National Road Safety Council has described the number of road fatalities this year as a major disaster.
More than 460 people have died so far from road crashes.
It is projected to increase to 470 by the end of the year.
Dr Lucien Jones, Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, is again calling for an effective deterrent for 2022 with the implementation of the new ticketing system and the new road traffic act.
"Speeding and driving recklessly" were the main causes of the high number of crashes, he said, adding that "unless you have an effectie detterence system in place, it just will not work."
One of the main manifestation of the problem has been "distracted driving," he said, highlighting motorists holding their cellphones in their hands while speaking instead of using the handsfree option. That option will be mandated in the new Road Traffic Act.
Provision is also in the new statute for cameras to be used by the police to detect infractions by motorists.
Management system
Dr Jones also wants the management system at the National Road Safety Council to be strengthened - including the appointment of more persons to its board - to effectively carry out its duties.
He told Radio Jamaica News that there are several issues that can be addressed to enable the council to target road users.
There was the need for dedicated funding for the council, "so that we can carry out our publication education campaign and employ more staff."
"If we get these fundamentals right, 2022 will be a far different year from 2021," he promised.
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