Vice chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Dr Lucien Jones has expressed concern that while crash helmets are required by law, there is limited use by pedal and motor cyclists and their pillion passengers.

He maintains that fatalities in this group would be significantly less, if there were stricter compliance to the use of crash helmets.

“Only one of the 48 motor cyclists who died during crashes last year had on a helmet at the time of death. This reality is a stark reminder that not enough persons are using crash helmets,” Dr Jones asserts

He however describes as “encouraging”, a drop in motorbike and pedal cycle crashes since the start of this year. The number of pedal cyclist fatalities from January 1 to March 4 of this year has decreased by 50 per cent, moving from six to three. Motorcyclist fatalities declined by 25 per cent, going from 12 during January to March 4 last year to 9 for the corresponding period this year.

Dr Jones emphasised that the Road Traffic Act outlines the requirement for wearing safety helmets and the penalties for failure to comply.

“Every person shall, at all times while driving or riding on, a motor cycle, wear protective helmet of the prescribed shape, quality, construction or standard,” Jones said.

Cyclists contravening the laws regarding the wearing of a helmet may be fined between $2,000 for a first offence and $5,000.

In the meantime, 60 people have been killed in 56 motor vehicle collisions since the start of the year, according the Road Safety Unit (RSU) of the Transport ministry.

The figures reflect a decline in fatalities and fatal collisions over the same period in 2009 when 74 people were killed from 63 collisions.

“We are imploring the police to be extremely vigilant about the use of helmets as all of the cyclists killed so far this year were not wearing helmets,” RSU director Kenute Hare commented yesterday.

Yearly figures have been showing a downward trend with police statistics revealing that in 2006 there was 371 fatalities down to 350 in 2007, 343 in 2008 and 342 last year.

ROAD DEATH CLOCK

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010

60 DEATHS