KINGSTON, Jamaica — Montel Hill-Bryan, lead for the Driving Academy at the JN Foundation and for the iDrive4Life Initiative, says there is an urgent need for decisive action to curb road crashes and save lives.

He was speaking against the background of the increase in road fatalities in recent years.

Last year, Jamaica recorded 374 road deaths from 324 fatal collisions, an increase of eight deaths over the previous year.

Hill-Bryan said one of the most effective solutions to road fatalities lies in adequate, structured driver training with a strong emphasis on defensive driving.

Hill-Bryan informed that iDrive4Life, a partnership involving the JN Foundation and the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), has developed a comprehensive driver training programme that approaches driving not only from a practical standpoint, but also through a scientific and data-driven lens.

The programme integrates theory, hands-on driving, advanced technology, and vehicle safety insights to improve overall driver behaviour.

According to Kamal McKen, driving instructor at the Jamaica Automobile Association’s Driving Academy, a significant proportion of road fatalities result from driver error commonly linked to road rage or speeding, which reduces reaction time; distracted driving, particularly mobile phone use, and failure to use indicators, a critical method of communicating driver intention to other road users.

These assertions match back to the data from the Island Traffic Authority which reported that in 2024 more than 80 per cent of crashes were related to driver error, stemming from unsafe practices which continue to worsen Jamaica’s road safety challenges.

Hill-Bryan notes that the programme will soon incorporate advanced driving simulator technology across the board for all students, complemented by classroom-based theory and practical road training.

“This enhancement is intended to further strengthen a programme that has already demonstrated success, with several commercial organisations reporting reduced crash rates and improved risk ratios among their drivers,” he argued.

Hill-Bryan also pointed to the cultural issues that arise from the gaps in legislation that allow anyone to place an ‘L’ sign on a vehicle and teach someone to drive.

“Unfortunately, when instructors themselves possess poor driving habits, those behaviours are often passed on to new drivers. To address this, iDrive4Life uses professional-grade driving simulators, trained and certified driving instructors to scientifically identify behavioural gaps in drivers and develop interventions to correct these gaps,” he explained.

“The simulator we use is not the typical gaming device; it is an assessment tool capable of generating detailed behavioural reports within 10-15 minutes, allowing instructors to implement targeted corrective training,” he added.

Hill-Bryan said the JN Foundation strongly believes that driver education should be continuous, as road networks evolve, vehicle technology advances, and driving cultures change.

“From the very beginning, drivers must be taught that driving is a serious responsibility, one that can either preserve life or end it, depending on the choices made behind the wheel. iDrive4Life’s mission is to build driver confidence, correct unsafe habits, and prepare motorists for the roads in 2026 and beyond. Our guiding mantra reflects this commitment: ‘Drive Smart. Drive Safe. Drive for Life’,” he said.

He emphasised that although Jamaica’s estimated road traffic fatality rate for 2025, approximately 13-14 deaths per 100,000 people, is slightly below the recent global average of around 15 per 100,000 reported by the World Health Organization, the numbers remain unacceptably high for a developing nation with a population of just above 2.8 million.

He informed that iDrive4Life offers training for individual drivers, company fleets, motorists seeking advanced skill development, partnerships with educational institutions and foreigners requiring orientation to Jamaican road culture.