The Star (Jamaica)

Bikers get driving lessons

-

The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is reporting that 350 motorcycli­sts have been trained under its Ministry of National Security-sponsored motorbike training programme, which is aimed at reducing the number of lives that have been lost in motorcycle collisions on the nation’s roads.

Motorcycli­sts account for 36 per cent of the 307 road users killed since the start of the year.

Paula Fletcher, executive director of the NRSC, said that the training has been paying dividend as none of the riders have been killed in crashes since the programme began in August 2020.

“There have been no fatalities that we know of among bikers that have been trained between August 2020 and July 2021, and the Area [One] police report that they see an increased use of the wearing of helmets by these bikers,” Fletcher said.

Under the programme, 700 helmets were distribute­d. Each participat­ing motorcycli­st received two, one for the driver and one for the pillion. The helmets were sponsored by Federation Internatio­nale de l’Automobile (FIA). The FIA is the governing body of motor sport and promotes safe, sustainabl­e and accessible mobility for all road users across the world.

Additional­ly, Fletcher said that approximat­ely 150 bikers have been put on a path to acquire driver’s licences.

 ?? FILE ?? A motorcycli­st driving through traffic in the Corporate Area.
FILE A motorcycli­st driving through traffic in the Corporate Area.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Jamaica