Transport Ministry Tackles Careless Bike Riding In Western Jamaica
Transport Minister, Mike Henry, along with the Road Safety Unit (RSU) has been touring sections of western Jamaica in an effort to reduce road traffic crashes and resultant fatalities in the region, where motorbike collisions are almost a new phenomenon.
Minister Henry, in meeting with motorcyclists in Hanover and Westmoreland earlier this week, expressed the need for several issues of concern to be addressed, including the unlawful use of motorbikes as taxis mostly in Westmoreland.
Additionally, he highlighted the general need for the cyclists to adhere to the Road Traffic Act, which requires the vehicles to be passed fit for use on the roads, then insured and officially licensed.
He said thereafter, the question of responsible operation of the units become an imperative, as things have gotten to the stage where fairly often two motorbikes are crashing head-on on roadways that were built for two cars to pass in opposite directions.
The cyclists were urged to wear proper safety gear in operating the vehicles, and to give due care, consideration and appreciation to the safety needs of both themselves and fellow road users.
The minister said his team is determined to bring back some sanity to the road safety figures, with the under 300 target for road fatalities being back on the table as a real objective for 2017.
Director of the RSU, Kenute Hare, said the Transport Mministry team opted to take the national focus to the western end of the island because that is where motorcycle crashes and resultant deaths have been most severely impacting the road safety figures.
He said the police have been asked to take a zero-tolerance approach to motorcyclists riding without helmets.
A total of 379 persons were killed on the nation’s roads last year. Numbered heavily among the fatalities were motorcyclists from the western end of the island.
So far this year, 19 road fatalities have been recorded.
