The Jamaica Driver & Traffic Safety Expo 2016, scheduled for June 4 in Mandela Park, Half-Way-Tree, was launched Wednesday morning at the offices of the Ministry of Transport & Mining, St Andrew.

“The focus has been on the deaths and not those alive with their injuries,” Alphonso Grennell, chairman of the expo planning committee, told Auto.

Using the tag line ‘Safe for Life’, Grennell said the aim this year isn’t the fatalities, but those that survive these massive accidents and end up suffering a poor quality of life from the various injuries, including brain damage. According to the chairman, these survivors end up costing the country a lot beyond a dollar amount, from the demands they place on family, insurance companies, and the medical system.

“A road accident victim may displace another patient needing surgery or who requires blood,” he said.

Keynote speaker Mike Henry, minister of transport and mining, said the expo will feature presentations on motorbike safety from Tarik Kiddoe and defensive driving by Grennell.

“The aim is to have persons avoid the accidents instead,” he said.

Other stakeholders in making the roads a better place, such as the Road Safety Unit, the Island Traffic Authourity and the Police Traffic Department will be on hand to give out information to the public.

“Persons can get answers on the new road safety act from each of these participants,” he added.

New for this year are simulators from Grennell’s school. Patrons will be able to test their skills in a variety of conditions, in a safe setting.

“The simulators can show the effects on hand/eye coordination during distracted driving,” he said.

— Rory Daley