Christopher Bovell (left), chairman of the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC), hands the keys for two highway patrol cars to Claude Reynolds (right), deputy superintendent of police at traffic headquaters, while Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry looks on. The official handover of the cars took place at The Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

The traffic department of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) received two new patrol cars from the National Road Operating and Constructing Company to help shore up its efforts in making Highway 2000 safer.

The cars were well needed as there were no patrol cars for the highway.

This gesture was greatly appreciated by the police force which believes it will go a long way in its supervision of the roads.

"On behalf of the Traffic Department, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force in general, we are receiving these two units for use on the highways on the toll roads and I can tell you they will only be used on the toll roads and they will go far in our traffic management capabilities, because there are too many accidents on the road and the presence of the police acts as a deterrent," said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Claude Reynolds.

In his remarks, Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry said he believed the presence of the cars would go a long way in decreasing deaths on the highways.

Citing an incident which occurred on September 24 last year, when six persons were killed in a motor vehicle accident on Highway 2000 near the Vineyards Toll Plaza, he said this move was to ensure no such other accidents occurred.

Over 300 persons were killed in traffic accidents last year.