STATISTICS from the Road Safety Unit (RSU) indicates nine of the 27 people killed on the island’s roadway since the start of the year were motorcycle drivers.

“None were wearing helmets… and speed is the major reason for all the crashes,” said Kenute Hare, director of the RSU in the Ministry of Transport and Mining. “Four drivers were killed and none were wearing seatbelts.”

“We have a major challenge with people not wearing seatbelts and helmets. They aren’t giving themselves a fighting chance,” he continued.

With this in mind, motorcyle drivers will take centre stage at workshop hosted by Back to Basics (BTB) at The Worthington, Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston, on Sunday. It is scheduled for an 8:30 pm start.

“We support it because it’s important,” said Hare. “The motorcycle drivers will have an opportunity to get technical and behavioural expertise from certified motorcycle trainers… it should make a big difference.”

Tarik Kiddoe, BTB conceptualiser, said the idea for the workshop came out of a dire need for training.

“This level of training and knowledge is not generally available… There are some motorcycle operators who use this a means of living… They need to know the fundamentals to be on the roads. One broken leg can cost more than $1 million to repair.”

Kiddoe, 40, has been riding since 11. A pilot by profession, he first conducted the sessions in September 2015.

He said at the end of the all-day session certificates would be handed out.

“Riders can come with their documentation; members of the Island Traffic Authority will be there. At the end of the session, participants licences would be upgraded from a ‘Learner’.”

To register, call 793-2829 or zawdie.com.btbw.

Recently, Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Parliament spoke to the revision of the new Road Traffic Act, which is aimed at aligning its road traffic laws with international best practices.

“We cannot continue to lose our people to fatal crashes which are largely preventable. Road traffic deaths continue to be a narrative which has a significant negative impact on our citizens and has almost become a part of our nation’s landscape,” Holness said.

He noted that approximately 50 per cent of total road fatalities in both 2015 and 2016 were pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Approximately 56 per cent of fatalities in 2015 and 55 per cent in 2016 were in the 15-44 year age range.

“These are the most productive years of our citizens and it has negative impact on our economic growth. It is of note that in both years, males accounted for approximately 84 per cent,” the Prime Minister said.

Statistics from the RSU revealed that the main causes of fatal crashes were: excessive speeding; drivers failing to keep to the correct side of the roadway (overtaking); and, of note, pedestrian error.

In 2014, 331 fatalities were recorded, while in 2015, 382 fatalities were recorded and there was a minima decrease in 2016, with 379 deaths recorded as a result of road fatalities.

“It is the responsibility, not only of our road users but our regulators, road developers, law enforcement officers and all citizens of this country, to ensure that we reverse this worrying trend,” Holness said.

— Brian Bonitto and Balford Henry