Crash crackdown

Road Safety Council wants stronger action against reckless motorists

Dr Lucien Jones, vicechairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), wants the Island Traffic Authority to get tougher on persons who are breaching the Road Traffic Act, amid the growing number of road fatalities caused by improper use of the roads.

“We all know, we see it daily, how many of our drivers go through the red light, cynically, without care, and they are doing these things because they believe they won’t get caught,” said Jones. “We need to mobilise the entire resource of this nation to make sure that the people understand that if they continue to behave like this, they are going to get caught.”

According to Jones, the Island Traffic Authority, which has the responsibility for suspending licences when motorists exceed a number of demerit points, needs to get its act together very quickly to make sure the system operates efficiently.

“This will make people feel it in their pockets. We cannot continue to behave like this on the roads. We need public education to get into the minds of people, that, if you continue to behave like this, you are going to get caught and bad things will happen to you, in respect of losing your licence,” added Jones.

His comments come on the heels of a motor vehicle collision this weekend on the Edward Seaga Highway, where at least eight persons were injured. No deaths were recorded. Since the start of the year, 114 persons have died on the nation’s roadways, a mere three per cent decline over the corresponding period last year. This is despite the various initiatives that have been put in place to get motorists to show greater respect for the Road Traffic Act. Jones believes that the key to arresting the situation is for an even greater push to get motorists to allow the law.

“We need to look at these things with the wisdom of our grandparents and take sleep mark death,” said Jones, noting that most of the fatalities recorded are males, ages 18-39, whom he believes are driving under the influence of alcohol and ganja, and while using their devices.

“We need to find a way to flood this nation with cameras so that people know without any doubt that, if you continue to make poor decisions, you will get caught or worst, you will suffer injury and you will die, and others will die because of your behaviour,” said Jones. “We’ve got to put a stop to this madness, too many people are dying needlessly on our roads.”

Since the start of April, there have been two fatalities in St James and St Thomas.