ST CATHERINE, Jamaica- The auditorium at Dinthil Technical High School in Linstead, St Catherine, was abuzz with activity recently as grade 10 students gathered for an interactive road safety presentation, spearheaded by the National Helmet Wearing Coalition (NHWC), a project implemented by the JN Foundation and the National Road Safety Council, and funded by the FIA Foundation

According to a release from the JN Foundation, the focus of the session was to highlight the importance of wearing helmets, an often overlooked yet critical aspect of road safety.

Sydoney Preddie, project manager for the NHWC, led the presentation with a mix of passion and urgency. Through charts, videos, and real-life statistics, she highlighted the devastating consequences of neglecting helmet use.

“We aim to reach young people at this crucial stage of their development to instill a culture of safety,” she explained after her presentation. “By helping them understand the importance of wearing helmets and making responsible decisions on the road, we hope these habits will carry over when they become motorists, ultimately contributing to fewer accidents and saving lives.”

For Grade 10 student, Kechani Thompson, the session was both engaging and informative. “It was educational,” she shared. “I learned that helmets can expire and how many people die each year from not wearing them.” Although she doesn’t drive bikes, the presentation had an impact on her. “In Jamaica, a lot of people don’t wear helmets when they ride bikes,” she observed.

Her classmate Michele found the session equally eye-opening. “I learned that you don’t just ride bikes—you drive them,” she said, her interest piqued at the prospect of getting her driver’s licence in the future.

For Trishana Francis, however, the session resonated on a deeper level. Feeling uplifted after a challenging morning, she revealed, “I was feeling down, but going in there and coming out, I felt kind of happy. It lifted my spirits.”

Her personal connection to the topic made it even more meaningful. Her older brother, an avid biker, did not own a helmet. Her wish to provide him with a helmet was later fulfilled by the coalition, a gesture that left her both relieved and happy.

The initiative aligns seamlessly with Dinthill Technical High School’s commitment to promoting road safety. Principal Anthony Garwood underscored the school’s proactive approach, which includes driver education as part of the curriculum.

“We’re one of the schools that do driver education. It came out of a concern about how the students respond on the road, how they take transportation and what transportation to take,” he explained.

Garwood commended the students for their positive reception of the session, particularly the interactive elements. “The initiative by the JN Foundation is a great addition to what we’re already doing,” he said.

Collaborating partners, including the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) and the HEART Trust NSTA, also emphasised the importance of reaching young people early.

Dontae Matthews, ITA’s manager for corporate communications and public relations, noted, “We want to ensure that our motorcyclists, prospective and current, wear helmets. We also realise that our young people account for a lot of our fatalities, so we have to get to them at an early age.”

Nearly 240 upper school students were in attendance for the helmet safety presentation and the wider school community of almost 1,000 were engaged at the booths during the day’s activities.