Road fatalities avoidable

THE EDITOR, Sir: AT ABOUT 6 a.m. last Thursday, I learnt of Germaine Mason’s demise. Ten persons lost their lives over the Easter weekend. This is bested only by the 12 who died over the same period in 2008.

Shouldn’t this have led persons to be more careful? Or, did they say that the persons who died were not skilful enough?

Since the start of the year, a third of the road users killed have been motorcyclists. Clarendon, Westmoreland and St Catherine account for 48 per cent of the overall fatalities.

It would seem to me that motorcyclists (and pedestrians) should be especially careful, and all road users should be doubly careful when in the abovenamed parishes. It is that simple. However, I have noticed over the years that many motorists are just as crazy on January 1 as they were in the old year. It doesn’t dawn on them that they need to turn over a new leaf in the New Year.

Three hundred and seventyseven lost their lives on the road in 2016, albeit fewer than the 382 in 2015. How do we lose over 300 lives on our roads in a year? I don’t even see why we should lose 52 persons! It is frightening to think that if we act true to form, another 200 lives will be lost on our roads by December 31!

There clearly will be vehicular accidents. We can only take precautions against them – drive more carefully, wear seat belts/helmets, turn off our floodlights in the face of oncoming traffic, etc. We need also to realise

that many accidents occur during the evening rush hour. However, many alcohol-related accidents happen at night, especially after midnight.

Could I appeal to our men to encourage their friends to wear helmets and seat belts and not drink and drive? NORMAN W.M. THOMPSON norman.thompson@ncu.edu.jm Mandeville, Manchester