SENIOR manager, distribution and marketing, JN General Insurance, Lynford Reece is appealing to motorists to exercise greater care on the road to ensure the safety of children as the new school year approaches. Statistics provided by the Road Safety Unit, he said, has shown that 135 children have perished on the road between 2017 and 2022.

“Children are vulnerable road users because they are easily distracted and they have limited cognitive skills,” Reece explained. This can result in them struggling to make wise decisions on using the road safely. They often have difficulty making good judgement about distance of vehicles approaching them when they are crossing the road. Children by nature love to play and may run into the path of a vehicle.”

“On the other hand, motorists driving large vehicles, such as buses and trucks, may not notice a small child crossing. This issue is further compounded if drivers are distracted while driving,” he added.

In a press release yesterday, Reece pointed out that even in minor crashes, children can sustain life-threatening injuries.

“Their small, delicate bodies cannot withstand the impact of a fast-moving vehicle, which can easily hoist them, creating further injuries. Besides, the psychological trauma of being in a road crash can last for years.”

At the same time, Sharon Bell, assistant manager, e-banking, JN Bank, said that eight years ago her daughter, then 16 years old, met in a serious motor vehicle crash which left her with lifelong injuries and psychological issues.

The crash occurred after a car overtook another which had stopped to allow her daughter to cross the road. She was on her way to school for extra classes one Saturday when it occurred. She sustained a broken arm and ankle and other injuries that resulted in her being hospitalised for six months and wheelchair-bound for more than seven months. Additionally, she had to miss her Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) exams, resulting in her spending an extra year in high school.

“She now has a fear of crossing the road,” Bell said, adding that her daughter is always intentional about using a pedestrian crossing where one exists.

The crash left a huge noticeable scar on her left arm, which often draws attention, causing her daughter much distress. Bell had to change her daughter’s wardrobe to include long-sleeved clothing.

“People keep asking, ‘What happened to you?’ So she is reliving it over and over because the scar is there as a reminder.”

Beyond the psychological effect, her daughter still experiences physical discomfort in her arm and ankle.

“The hand is not 100 per cent. She experiences tingling. The ankle still bothers her. When she goes on the road and comes back, it is swollen and when she wakes in the mornings, it is very stiff,” she said.

Reece implored motorists to use the road responsibly and encourages parents to discuss road safety with their children.

“If children are going to school for the first time or to a new school, accompany them so they are familiar with the route. Continue to walk with them until you are satisfied they can manage. Teach them to walk in single file and to use the pedestrian crossing where there is one. If there is no pedestrian crossing, tell them to look up, down, and up again before crossing.”