I extend my sincere appreciation to the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, for being a consistent and credible partner in the fight to arrest the current carnage on the roads. As we celebrate June as Road Safety Month, it is good and timely that a supplement is being published to highlight the need for all road users to become extremely aware of the attendant dangers, but equally the care and individual responsibility that we should all embrace.

The alarming and unacceptable figures on road fatality annually, usually elicit an emotional knee jerk response. This is understandable under the circumstances. However, as Minister with portfolio responsibility for Transport I have to look far beyond that. Its important to analyze the situation, develop policies and strategies to be implemented and have the full support of all Jamaicans. This is one hot button issue that requires bi-partisan support.

However, before we get there we must determine the size of the problem, the proximal and root causes, which causes are a amenable to treatment and how effective will the treatment be. We have to find Innovative ways to reach our target audience.

Attention must be given to the driver of the motor vehicle and the enormous responsibilities that he or she has during its operation….the number of events an average driver faces in traffic per unit of time and per kilometer……. driver decisions, driver actions, and driver errors, which result in crashes and by extension fatalities.

Equally we must examine in a comprehensive way potential conflicts, slight conflicts and serious conflicts of road conditions with safety standards within the traffic environment. In other words, while we keep a strict focus on the drivers we must equally ensure that the conditions in which he operates are safe. There is absolutely no reason for a driver making a stupid error of judgment to be paying for that error with ‘capital punishment’.

May I use this opportunity to remind motorists that we have only two hospitals in Jamaica that are equipped to deal with the trauma associated with motor vehicle crash victims. These are the Cornwall Regional and Kingston Public Hospitals. Please bear in mind that the further away you are from these institutions, the even more cautious you should be as you operate your motor vehicle.

The new Road Traffic Act will soon become a reality and while we are not looking to its implantation as a panacea to our problems on the road, it is important that I encourage all motorists to take precautions for safety, because failure to do s will result in consequences which could hurt the pocket.

Hon. Lester ‘Mike’ Henry

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND MINING