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By Kimone Witter
Vice President of the National Road Safety Council, Dr. Lucien Jones is calling for animal owners to be prosecuted following another collision which resulted in the death of a motorist.
Valentine Bailey, 21, of Smithville in Clarendon, died in hospital on Wednesday, hours after a three-vehicle pile up in New Bowens in the south of the parish.
The crash was reportedly caused by stray cattle that was first hit by a motorcar and thrown into the motorcycle being driven by Mr. Bailey.
Mr. Bailey sustained multiple injuries, including to the head, while the motorcar driver's injuries were not considered serious.
The car then hit a third vehicle during the incident - that driver escaped unhurt.
Dr. Jones said incidents of stray cattle causing crashes have been recurring without consequences.
"We have spoken about it before. The municipal corporations have responded. There have been calls for action to be taken against the owners of these animals. And yet again, we have another person dying on the road because cows are straying - not just one, several were seen on those roads. So we need to find a way to deal with this menace once and for all in this country. We can't allow stray animals to cause people to die on our roads," he insisted.
The number of motorcyclists who have died in road crashes since the start of the year now stands at 100.
This is 11 fewer than for the similar period last year.
In light of the recent surge in fatal crashes on the roads, the police are being urged to step up their enforcement of the Road Traffic Act.
Dr. Jones said 21 deaths have already occurred in October, and he is concerned that the number of fatalities will increase over the Heroes Day weekend.
"If we don't curb what is happening now, we are entering into a holiday period over the weekend and towards Christmas the next couple of months. We really have to make sure that enforcement is at the top of the game. We need to encourage people again, do not drink and drive. Make sure you have a designated driver over this weekend, the holiday weekend, between now and Monday night," he urged.
So far this year, 299 people have died.
Dr. Jones noted that there have been 16 days during the year so far when four or more people died.
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