Motorists must adopt a culture of preventing road crashes, as they are avoidable, says Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz.

Delivering the keynote address at the Crash No More 2024 Defensive Driving Workshop, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on October 2, the Minister also said that while the economic cost of road crashes is quantifiable, the emotional toll is immeasurable.

The Minister emphasised that for every life lost, many others are left with serious, sometimes permanent injuries, and the toll extends beyond the victims.

“Families are often left to deal with the cost of hospitalisation, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term post-traumatic care. In the most tragic cases, they are burdened by the grief of an untimely loss. Recent headlines have reminded us of this reality, such as the heartbreaking crash in Westmoreland that claimed the lives of a father and his infant son, and the tragic incidents involving students in Clarendon and Portland,” he said.

The Minister noted that road crashes cost millions in healthcare and infrastructure repairs and, “most importantly, the negative impact on human capital and loss in productivity.”

“Road accidents stretch our healthcare system and diminish the well-being of our communities. Education and enforcement go hand in hand. As we build the capacity of our motorists and road users, we must ensure that the laws are effective. The Road Traffic Act, 2018 and its regulations aim to address dangerous driving behaviours,” Vaz said.

He underscored that the road traffic law imposes stricter penalties for violations and is intended to reduce road fatalities. There are fines for speeding, driving under the influence, and the non-use of seat belts or child-safety restraints.

The Minister said enforcing the law is intended as a “preventive measure” in curbing dangerous driving behaviours.

Since the start of the year, there have been 276 road fatalities from 236 collisions. These include passengers in commercial motor vehicles, one per cent of the fatalities; pedestrians, 18 per cent; private motor-vehicle drivers, 18 per cent; private motor-vehicle passengers, 12 per cent; and motorcyclists, 33 per cent.

Males account for 85 per cent of the fatalities, and females, 15 per cent.

“These are alarming figures. These occurrences require closer study, with targeted interventions designed to reverse the numbers, ultimately saving lives,” the minister said.

The workshop was organised by Grennel Driving School, with a focus on equipping drivers with the tools, tips and techniques necessary to avoid collisions.