Road Safety Message Taken To Schools in Trelawny

MONTEGO BAY — The issue of safety on the country’s roads for pedestrians, commuters and drivers has been of grave concern over the last few years, especially in light of the growing number of road fatalities.

Statistics show that there were over 300 road fatalities across the island in 2009 and 2010, which has led to a national drive to bring that figure below the 300 mark.

Several organisations and individuals have been playing their part to assist in that drive, through several different initiatives and programmes.

The Ministry of Transport and Works, through its Road Safety Unit, has been at the forefront of this campaign, with its latest initiative being a series of seminars, presentations and demonstrations in schools across the island. 

On Thursday, November 17, the Unit took its message to the Ulster Spring Primary School, in Trelawny.

Education and Information Officer with the Road Safety Unit, Julian Thompson, explains that although the parish of Trelawny does not have a high road fatality rate, in comparison to other parishes, the focus will be on schools in the parish for the month of November.

"The aim of the Road Safety Unit is to educate and sensitise children and the entire population about how to be safe on the road, and how to be responsible road users," he tells JIS News.

Mr. Thompson says that the Unit has an entrenched education programme in the school system, where as many schools as possible across the island are visited with the road safety message.

"The good thing about this programme is that even though children are our primary audience, they are so excited about the programme that when they leave the school compound they actually go into the communities and tell their parents, and they tell their friends at church and in their districts about what they have learnt.  So, we realise that it has a trickle down and also a trickle up effect,” he says.

Mr. Thompson informs that for the month of November, some 14 schools across the parish of Trelawny will be visited by the Unit.

He tells JIS News that for the January to November period last year, over 270 road fatalities had taken place, while for the similar period this year there have been 20 less road fatalities, which is a six per cent reduction.  He credits the reduction to the public education campaign and other programmes being carried out nationally.

"The less persons dying on our roads, the fewer traumas and the less burden it is on the health sector, on our national budget, and on our collective psyche as a people," Mr. Thompson says.

He argues that  it is going to take a concerted effort from all stakeholders to bring road fatalities down to a minimum, and is calling on motorists to always drive within the limits of the law, and on pedestrians to observe due care in how they use the roadways.

Principal of the Ulster Spring Primary School, Florette Pingue, expressed delight at the presence of the Road Safety Unit, adding that both teachers and students were appreciative of their message.

She said that the presentation will definitely be beneficial to all, especially the children, and will help them to keep safe on the road.

Several of the children told JIS News that the presentation by members of the Unit has enlightened them in how to use the roads properly.

By Bryan Miller, JIS Reporter