Jamaicans being trained in traffic crash investigation

Minister of Transport and Mining Robert Montague, says that the ministry is working closely with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) to ensure that Jamaicans can be trained in black-box analysis and traffic crash investigation by June 2018.

This, he said, would give stakeholders such as insurance companies, private- and public-sector investigators, and vehicle fleet managers a better understanding of the circumstances leading up to fatal road crashes.

"Jamaica will be, in the very near future, providing the world with highly trained and skilled traffic accident investigators, analysts, and reconstructionists," the minister told the gathering at the 7th International Road Federation Caribbean Regional Congress, held at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel in St James on Tuesday.

"We have been analysing the black boxes of motor vehicles involved in traffic crashes, and the information gleaned in some cases is heart-wrenching. There have been cases with drivers travelling at speeds above 122 kilometres per hour and executing manoeuvres that proved perilous," he added.

Montague added that the sudden nature and small time frame in which traffic crashes occur "makes it difficult for persons not to be injured if the motor vehicles are travelling at exponential speeds".

The minister said that it is intolerable for persons to be travelling at enormous speeds when there are designated speed limits along the road network.

"As a Government, we take road safety very seriously. We are making every effort to ensure we are able to determine and combat the causes of traffic crashes. Currently, we use the 'Human-Environment-Vehicle Model' to ensure that we can ascertain trends in the traffic environment so that the requisite measures can be developed and deployed," he said.

... Seatbelt provides 50 per cent safety; air bag provides 10 per cent - Montague

The Minister of Transport and Mining is working closely with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) to ensure that Jamaicans can be trained in black-box analysis and traffic crash investigation by June 2018.

Black boxes are data recorders that preserve inputs from the vehicle's sensors. This often includes the five to 10 seconds before an accident occurs. After an accident, the data can be downloaded and stored to help determine conditions that contributed to the crash.

Minister of Transport and Mining Robert Montague, says that since the start of the year, 108 persons have been killed in traffic crashes, noting that the crashes were predominantly due to poor decisions made by the driver.

"Let me remind everyone that whenever a traffic crash occurs, it causes grave imbalances to the socio-economic fabric of the nation. Traffic crashes have the potential to destroy families. Hence I beseech every Jamaican to drive for the family," he implored at a gathering at the 7th International Road Federation Caribbean Regional Congress, held at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel in St James on Tuesday.

"Road safety is everybody's business, so I expect every motorist and passenger to be buckled and wearing the respective protective gear as they operate in the traffic environment."

The minister also issued a stern warning to drivers and passengers, cautioning them against the deadly habit of not wanting to "always wear their seat belts".

"Remember that seat belts provide 50 per cent of safety and the air bag provides 10 per cent. This means if your vehicle is equipped with both, you are travelling with 60 per cent of safety," he pointed out.