Road safety council wants better conduct on political motorcades to avoid deaths, injuries

The police are to continue to enforce the country's road rules against political motorcades and parties will similarly continue to encourage their supporters to observe proper conduct while campaigning.

Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council Dr Lucien Jones says that this was the consensus agreed upon at a meeting today involving the body, head of the police's traffic department Assistant Commissioner Gary McKenzie, Delroy Chuck of the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party's Peter Bunting.

Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica Earl Jarrett also participated in the discussion.

In a statement, Jones said he called the meeting arising from incidents of fatalities and injuries associated with political motorcades as part of campaign activities for Monday's local government election.

He said this is an issue of concern for the road council.

“We arrived at a consensus on the way forward to avoid any further deaths and injuries between now and the local government elections, and for any future elections and in respect of how members travel to and from party conferences,” he said.

“The key point is that the police will continue to enforce the laws of the land governing how we use the roads, and the political parties will give full and unqualified support to the police. Details of other important issues discussed will be released in due course,” Jones continued.

He disclosed that to date 51 persons have died as a result of road fatalities.

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