Earl Jarrett, chairman of the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), is expressing concern about the escalating death toll from road accidents and road-safety issues. According to Jarrett, the recent Dam Bridge, Portland accident, which claimed 14 lives last week, emphasised the urgent need for the implementation of further strategies to improve road safety and enhance road-maintenance programmes.

Some of these strategies, he said, were outlined by the Save 300 Lives programme launched last Month.

"The programme is a multi-sectoral approach to preventing collisions and reducing their impact socially and economically. Save 300 incorporates action from the health, transport, financial and planning spheres of government and is fuelled by a public education programme aimed at fostering good road habits among Jamaicans," explained Jarrett, who co-chairs the National Road Safety Council.

More reliable road network

Jarrett added that if rural-based Jamaicans were to benefit from current economic and social development afforded to Jamaicans living in urban areas, a safer and more reliable road network, as well as improved methods of transportation, must be in place.

Commending recent local and international government initiatives to boast road safety, Jarrett went on to say that the Government had indicated a clear commitment to reduce road deaths.

Citing an example of government's steps to enhance road-development strategies, he referred to the recently implemented iRAP programme, which will develop a database of danger spots or 'red zones' along Jamaica's roads.

The data gleaned will inform road-safety policy as well as road building and maintenance.

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Works with funding from the Jamaica Automobile Association.

However, Jarrett said there were other areas, which needed immediate attention.

"The review and implementation of an updated Road Code, and increasing the Jamaica Constabulary Force's power of arrest relating to traffic violation are but two areas which require urgent action," pointed out Jarrett, general manager of the Jamaica National Building Society.

Advocating

The JAA has been advocating for government action in these areas since the launch of its Make Roads Safe (MRS) campaign in 2008.

The MRS campaign petitioned the United Nations to recognise road fatalities as a constraint to development and to fund initiatives to improve road safety, especially in developing countries.