Pedestrians Urged to be More Careful on the Roads

Pedestrians are being urged to be more careful on the roadways, as they are the most vulnerable category of road users.

Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ today (February 17), Administration Officer at the Traffic and Highway Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Deputy Superintendent Gary McKenzie, said there have been 35 road fatalities since the start of the year, including many pedestrians.

“What is agonizing for us is that the vulnerable road users continue to be those who are dying. Of the 35 road fatalities there were 13 pedestrians, 9 motor cyclists and 5 private motor cyclists,” he noted.

The Deputy Superintendent said that in light of last year’s 334 road fatalities, the Division has done an in-depth analysis for a three-year period, in order to identify factors resulting in these accidents.

“We recognized that the majority of accidents were as a result of persons making critical errors while travelling on the roadways. The analysis also revealed that other vulnerable road user groups include motor car passengers as well as pedal and motor cyclists,” DSP McKenzie said.

The Administration Officer highlighted the crash spots in Kingston and St. Andrew. “Across the Corporate Area we have some bad spots. These are areas where we have more than two fatal accidents within a given year. Some of these areas include Sir Florizel Glasspole Boulevard and Hope Road, especially in the area of Jamaica College,” he noted.

The Deputy Superintendent also cited other bad spots, including Washington Boulevard, Marcus Garvey Drive, Long Lane towards Constant Spring, the Half-Way Tree and Spanish Town Road, especially between Three and Six Miles.

“For all the sites mentioned, there are signs declaring the areas as crash spots,” he explained.

During this year, the Traffic and Highway Division will be using public education, enforcement of existing laws, as well as internal and external partnerships to address the issue of road fatalities.