NRSC wants measures fast-tracked to reduce road fatalities

   

Vice chair of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Dr. Lucien Jones, is concerned about the delay in implementing measures that can reduce road fatalities and assist crash investigators.

 

His comment comes on the heels of the deaths of five men in 48 hours.

 

On Saturday, a 23-year-old man died at the intersection of the Ironshore main road and Morgan road in St. James, after he collided with another vehicle.

 

It was reported that one of the two drivers involved disobeyed the traffic signal.

 

On Sunday, four men, travelling on motorcycles, crashed into a bus in Culloden, Westmoreland.

 

They have been identified as Kemaney Thomas, Tevin Bailey, Renado Fenton and Arsenio Forbes - all in their early twenties, of Whitehouse addresses.

 

Dr. Jones is urging the authorities to make haste in having Closed Circuit Television cameras installed at intersections and lowering the blood alcohol threshold. 

 

"Two things happened recently, which if we take advantage of, can make a difference. At a meeting with the prime minister, it was agreed that one of the measures that we could put in place quickly was the use of cameras to detect infractions and to send tickets to the offender. This needs to happen like yesterday. I know there are some challenges, but whatever challenges there are, those challenges need to be overcome very quickly," he asserted. 

 

He said reducing the alcohol level for motorists to zero, led to a dramatic drop in road fatalities in Argentina. 

 

"Further, we know that the use of marijuana, while driving, prevents you from staying in your lane carefully. It affects your ability to drive and to respond to challenges on the roads. Both must go hand in hand, but the easier one to do at this time is the matter of driving under the influence of alcohol. So two things need to happen. We need to reduce the level of alcohol you can have in your breath or in your blood, to zero, and we need to increase the efficiency of the breathalyser system," he proposed. 

 

According to the latest data, the country has recorded 191 fatalities from 164 collisions. 

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Jones wants the authorities to ensure that motorcycles being imported to Jamaica have Electronic Stability Control technology.

 

This technology helps prevent a vehicle from skidding when turning a corner, braking sharply or making a sudden manoeuvre.

 

The NRSC vice chair said the improved braking system is being used in cars and can be applied to motorcycles. 

 

"This is something that we need to get in place in Jamaica very quickly because most of our crashes are caused by motorcyclists, and many of them they lose control. Yes, they are doing foolish things on the road also, overtaking around a corner. But in some cases where they're trying to avoid a pothole or other issues, it can make a difference," he said, urging the government to fast-track these measures.