MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Superintendent of the St Elizabeth Police Division Lanford Salmon wants a review of the law which governs motorcyclists.

He has made the call in light of a number of accidents involving motorcyclists in the parish.

According to data from the division there has been 11 fatalities involving bikes since the start of the year.

Ten of the deaths were motorcyclists and in one of the incidents a pedestrian was reportedly killed by a motorcyclist.

The latest incident took place in Fyffes Pen, Black River, about midday Sunday when, according to the police, 18-year-old Akeem Scott lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a tree.

He died in hospital.

“It is alarming. I do believe we need to look at the law…,” said Salmon.

He said that one of the approaches that can be looked at is a Canadian Model where motorcyclists go through requisite tests before they can qualify to ride a motorcycle.

“The present system can’t work. We need to move away from the situation where a man can just buy a Learner’s (Licence) and ride a motorcycle,” said the senior police officer.

Salmon said that Scott was not wearing a helmet on Sunday.

 He said that despite stepping up prosecution for not wearing helmets the number of motorcycle accidents are not trending down.

Alicia Sutherland

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