Corporal Daniel Bennett (right) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Traffic Division, is greeted by Duane Ellis (right), General Manager of the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), following a church service held at the St Richards Catholic Church in St Andrew to mark the beginning of Road Safety Awareness Month, on Sunday, June 1, 2014.
With a marked increase in the number of Road fatalities during the first five months of 2014 when compared to the similar periods in 2012 and 2013, Duane Ellis, General Manager of the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), is urging all Jamaican road users—motorists and pedestrians–to play their part in reducing the incidences of road crashes.
Mr Ellis pointed to data from the Road Safety Unit at the Ministry of Transport and Works, which revealed that “fatal crashes and fatalities have increase by fourteen per cent and thirteen percent respectively since the start of year, when compared to the similar period in 2013.” And as of May 29, 130 persons had been killed in some 120 crashes.
He disclosed the high level of crashes while addressing a service held at the St Richards Catholic Church in St Andrew, on Sunday, June 1, to commemorate the start of Road Safety Awareness Month and the first in a series of activities to be organised by the JAA as part of its ongoing “Safe Driving Saves Lives” campaign, which was launched last November.
“We at the JAA see our role as central in all national efforts to advocate for and promote greater awareness of Road Safety and Mobility issues,” he said.
He also applauded the ongoing work of stakeholders, such as the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), with its continuing Below 240 campaign; and the work of the Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA) to raise awareness among motorists.
“The work of the JAA and other Road Safety stakeholders, will only deliver value to all Jamaicans if we all make safe driving and road use a part of our personal mantra,” he noted.
TheSafe Driving Saves Livescampaign is one the series of initiatives being undertaken by the JAA, as part of its continuing commitment to the fulfillment of the United Nation’s Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 – 2020 campaign, which aims to reduce road deaths and injuries around the world.
Mr Ellis explained to participants at the church service that central to the Safe driving campaign “are the 10 Golden Rules for Safer Motoring, a set of simple tips intended to help motorists to improve their driving behavior,” adding that under the campaign “the JAA will be carrying out a series of activities which include the formation of synergies with motor sports stakeholders.”
