Chief traffic cop urges responsible driving after five killed in road crashes within 72 hours
Tamoy Ashman / Our Today
Assistant Commissioner of Police Gary McKenzie is urging motorists to drive responsibly on the roadways this holiday season, following reports that five persons have died in separate motor vehicle collisions in 72 hours.
McKenzie also noted that many motorists have been found to be driving under the influence of alcohol after being breathalysed.
Additionally, he shared that several motorists have been driving outside the designated lanes, resulting in traffic crashes.
“It is very important that as we go through this season, towards the end of the year, we are very careful on the roadways. It makes no sense that we drive at excessive speeds and that we make haste to go where we are going,” said the assistant commissioner.
He noted that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has increased its presence on the roadways. However, motorists often speed off after passing police checkpoints, an act he says is dangerous.
McKenzie further stressed the importance of following the road codes and urged motorists to rest at police stations if they are too tired to drive home.
“We can’t afford to lose any more persons before the end of this year, so please drive carefully,” he stressed.
While McKenzie did not state the details of the crashes that claimed the lives of five people within 72 hours, a policeman was among two people who died in the Richmond area of St Ann on Christmas Eve.
He is Corporal Hampton Russell of the St Ann Police Division.
According to the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the Island Traffic Authority, a total of 401 Jamaicans have lost their lives due to road fatalities up to Wednesday, December 13.
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