NRSC concerned about safety issues on May Pen to Williamsfield highway

 

Vice-chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr. Lucien Jones, has expressed concern about inadequate signage and other safety issues on the recently opened May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000.

 

He says the signs are difficult to see at night and as such pose a danger to motorists.

 

Dr. Jones, who was a guest Thursday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM, said he has spoken with the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC) about the erection of signs, which he says was poorly executed. 

 

"The kind of signage that is required to attend the opening of that road, in some instances it's not up to par. They have opened the road but they are now hastening to put up the signs, and perhaps it would have been good if both had been done in concert. 

 

"There are signs there which are difficult to see at night time. If you're leaving the highway to enter May Pen, the sign there going to Mandeville or going to May Pen is a piece of board. I think it is written in a way that you may be able to see that night but there's no certainty," he lamented. 

 

Dr. Jones admitted that more signs have been set up in the last few days, which he said is encouraging. 

 

However, he expressed concern about a traffic light at the exit of the highway.

 

"There is a stop light which is not yet energised. If you leave the highway and you're going to turn right to go back to May Pen, that's a potential danger that they have to move quickly [to address]. It's taking a while, don't know what is happening. Hopefully within a day or two, it will be in place," he hoped.  

 

In addition, Dr. Jones urged the authorities to not only erect fencing but also guardrails to prevent stray animals from making their way onto the highway.  

                                                 

Responding to a question from a Morning Agenda listener who said the Council should have toured the new May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000 to minimise the current hazards, Dr. Jones acknowledged that the National Road Safety Council could have been more proactive in ensuring all safety measures were in place prior to its opening.

 

He said the NRSC requested a tour of the highway, but it was too late considering the Council has limitations in terms of funding, authority and personnel. 

 

According to Dr. Jones, the NRSC depended on the National Works Agency to ensure that these things were in place since the NWA monitors road activities. 

 

"We have a new arrangement now where the Prime Minister has appointed a minister to work with the Council. I think going forward it will give us what the Gleaner calls more heft as a council. Minister [Daryl] Vaz is now working with us and so far we have found him very proactive and very hands on and we are encouraged by the way he has started out. So I think going forward with that kind of arrangement we will have the ability to respond better to that kind of question," he said.