New helmet standard aims to save lives, reduce economic costs

Jamaica is losing billions of dollars annually due to motorcycle crashes, with unsafe and substandard helmets emerging as a major contributor to both fatalities and the country’s growing economic burden.

This was the warning from Sydoney Preddie, lead for Youth and Education Programme, JN Foundation, during her address at the launch of the JS 374:2025 Jamaica Standard Specification – Protective Helmets for Road Users National Helmet Safety Standard by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, recently. Her address positioned road safety not only as a public health concern, but also as a critical economic issue, with far-reaching implications for national productivity and economic growth and stability.

Referencing data, Preddie argued that the motorcycle-related crashes are draining national resources at an unsustainable rate. She noted that regional estimates show that road traffic incidents account for three and five per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Latin America. In the Jamaican context, she reasoned that this translates to more than $100 billion annually in crash-related costs, funds that she said could otherwise be invested in infrastructure, education, and job creation.

“This is not just about safety; it is an economic issue,” Preddie emphasised, highlighting the compound losses arising from healthcare expenses, reduced workforce participation, and long-term disability.

The cost of treating injuries alone is significant. It takes an average of $3 million to treat a single severely injured motorcyclist, she said, placing immense pressure on Jamaica’s already strained public health system.

Beyond direct medical costs, she underscored the hidden economic toll, including lost income for victims and their families, as well as reduced national productivity when working-age people, usually men, are killed or incapacitated.

LEADING ROAD FATALITIES

Motorcyclists, she noted, represent one of the most vulnerable groups on the nation’s roads, accounting for over 30 per cent of annual road fatalities. In 2025 alone, there were 126 motorcycle-related deaths, contributing to more than 1,600 fatalities recorded since 2012.

Despite the risks, she said helmet quality remains a major concern. Preddie revealed findings from a 2024 mystery shopper initiative in which 16 helmets being sold in stores were tested. Only one met the required safety standards she said, even though all were labelled as certified.

“The study exposed widespread issues, including weak chin straps, insufficient padding, and misleading labels, [which are] factors that significantly increase the likelihood of fatal head injuries in crashes,” she informed.

“The reality is that not all helmets offer protection,” she said, stressing that poor-quality imports have left Jamaican riders dangerously exposed.

The road safety professional argued that without proper regulation, Jamaica risks becoming a dumping ground for substandard safety gear, a trend observed in other developing countries. She cited Kenya as an example, where more than 90 per cent of helmets tested failed to meet safety standards.

However, she pointed to success stories within the region. In Guyana, the implementation and enforcement of helmet standards led to more than 80 per cent reduction in motorcycle fatalities, demonstrating the potential economic and social returns of strong regulatory action.

Dr Velton Gooden, executive director of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, said the newly introduced Jamaican standard is expected to address these gaps by strengthening oversight at the ports and ensuring that only certified helmets enter the local market. He said this represents a critical step toward reducing preventable deaths while safeguarding the country’s economic future.

With motorcycle use increasing amid the growth of delivery services and informal transport, Preddie stressed the urgency of action.

“We are not only protecting motorcyclists,” she underscored, “We are protecting Jamaica’s economy.”

Also addressing the launch of the standards, Delano Seiveright, state minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, reiterated that motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road-users.

“Today marks a critical milestone in Jamaica’s ongoing efforts to strengthen road safety, consumer protection and our national quality infrastructure. The launch of JS 374:2025 Jamaica Standard Specification – Protective Helmets for Road Users represents far more than the introduction of a technical standard. It represents a decisive step by Jamaica to protect lives through science, regulation and coordinated national action,” he said.

Seiveright said too many lives were being lost or were being altered permanently because of substandard protective equipment and failure to wear the equipment.