GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — Hanover bikers who were initially hesitant to participate in a training session to make them better road users later turned out in droves, leaving the class packed.

They had been leery of participating because the police were involved and many of them are not licensed, but National Road Safety Council officials managed to calm their fears. Now there are plans to offer another class to reach those who were unable to attend last time. More than 40 have already signed up.

“We have 42 pre-registered because now that they have seen that the bikers have been able to come in the company of the police force, they are now more comfortable. That’s the fear that they have because a lot of them are not legal. They are not licensed — neither they nor the motorcycles are insured — but we tell them that the police are only here to train. When they are on the road, that’s a different thing. So I think the word has gotten out,” executive director of the National Road Safety Council Paula Fletcher told the Jamaica Observer after Sunday’s closing ceremony.

There were 39 participants over two days, March 26 and April 2, at the Green Island High School in Hanover. That was the 11th cohort of bikers trained.

Every participant who showed up received a $1,000 gas voucher. Those who completed the programme received a helmet and a certificate. In addition, their names have been sent to the Traffic Authority to allow them to bypass the driving test when applying for a licence. They will still need to do a written test.

“A lot of them will tell you that they have never received a certificate in their lives within the school system. So it means a lot to them,” relayed Fletcher. “That is how we want them to feel. We want them to feel that they are of value and that they should treat themselves as such to make themselves legal within the system and to operate in a particular way that they are useful to themselves, family, and the nation.”

Island Traffic Authority Director Kenute Hare was a presenter, and training sessions covered the road code and practical driving test as well as tips on what to wear in order to minimise damage to exposed skin during a crash. The importance of wearing a helmet was also pointed out.

Bike taxi operator Oranda Jones was recognised for being the most outstanding participant. He was given a voucher to access free insurance for a year.

The 30-year-old resident of Salt Spring, Hanover, said he found the training course helpful.

“I saw a flyer on a bar and I just came to check it out and I got some very useful information; some information that I did not know before. Yes, widen my knowledge,” said Jones, who also did well on the obstacle course during the practical test.

He said skills honed as a bike taxi operator helped him master the driving test and it was fairly easy to execute the instructions he received.

Jones said he will be marketing the next training session to other bikers. His goal is to get as many of them as possible to participate.

“Yes ma’am, the whole of mi co-workers haffi come next time,” he assured.

A collaborative move by HEART/NSTA Trust, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the Island Traffic Authority, the motorcycle training programme started close to two years ago. It was first offered in Petersfield, Westmoreland — which has in the past earned a reputation as the hotbed of motorcycle road fatalities in Western Jamaica. Approximately 500 participants have been trained since its inception.

“The success has been good so far because to our knowledge there have been no motorcyclists who have died after attending a two-day training. So we think it is a significant programme and we are hoping that it will have its impact and that we will have the continued funding to continue,” said an optimistic Fletcher.

According to the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Works, 32 motorcyclists died on the country’s roads in 2022. None of those crashes were in Hanover, but four were in Westmoreland. Up to April 3, 2023 there were 30 fatalities islandwide, four in Hanover and three in Westmoreland.