With motorcyclists figuring prominently among the statistics for road fatalities, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has mobilised support to launch a national campaign aimed at encouraging motorcycle riders and pillions to wear helmets.

The NRSC this morning signed an agreement with the JN Foundation and the FIA Foundation to establish the National Helmet Wearing Coalition Project, which is geared towards encouraging motorcyclists and pillion riders to wear a helmet.

Chairman of the NRSC, Dr Lucien Jones, said the partnership is a direct response to the growing public health issue that has emerged as a result of the high number of crashes involving motorcyclists. Figures from the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport show that motorcyclists account for 31 per cent of road fatalities so far this year.

“Road fatalities in Jamaica represent the second leading cause of violent deaths. To date, 238 persons have died, versus 299 last year, a 20 per cent reduction. But this reduction comes where last year we recorded 488 deaths, the worst in our history, so road fatalities fall just below homicides, the frequency at which we all know has caused much pain, grief and fear in our fledging democracy and COVID hit economy,” Jones outlined as he emphasised the gravity of the issue.

He noted that road safety is not only a public health issue but it also has great economic and developmental consequences on developing countries like Jamaica.

“The second of the two issues confronting us is that riders of motorcycles are most at risk of deaths in our country. Over nine per cent of them do not wear a helmet and, therefore, many die because of head injuries sustained by crashes,” he further explained.

The National Helmet Wearing Coalition Project is a three-year agreement that will be funded by the FIA Foundation at a cost of EURO $750,000 or J$12.7 million.

Programmes director for the FIA Foundation, Agnieska Krasnolucka, pledged to support this important initiative that is also a global issue of concern due to the significant impact.

“The issue of road fatality remains a global burden. Twenty-eight per cent of road traffic deaths around the world are among motorised two or three-wheelers, totalling 3,075 deaths each year. This rate has increased sharply around the world and sadly it’s not changing, this trend is progressing and Jamaica is no different at all,” Krasnolucka underscored, adding that” I am really delighted to see some many representatives from different sectors to discuss the importance of helmets, which is the most critical and fundamental protection”.

The FIA Foundation is an international charity that works closely with grant partners to shape projects and advocate to secure a change in policy and practice.

In the meantime, general manager of the JN Foundation, Claudine Allen, is optimistic that the project will yield positive outcomes over the three-year period.

The National Helmet Wearing Coalition will comprise multiple stakeholders in society who will work towards improving the safety of motorists by increasing helmet use among motorists and access to quality and affordable helmets in the Jamaican market.

“The coalition for us, is a group of persons who are passionate, serious, committed to saving lives and they are willing to give of themselves and pull on resources to help those in their communities to understand the problem and represent the solution and to ensure there neighbours are held accountable to ensure that everyone puts safety first,” Allen explained.

A National Project Steering Committee will also work alongside the National Helmet Wearing Coalition to help with meeting the established objectives, such as providing technical expertise on content, providing support on internal and external communications and advocating for reforms to enhance road safety legislation for motorcyclists.

The National Project Steering Committee will be chaired by Jones.