2010 - A rear-view glance

Last year was a mixed bag for the auto industry. The recessionary year was marred by recalls, missed targets for the reduction in road deaths, but brightened by Marzouca's magical cruisers and Montego Bay taking on a new personality, thanks to ATL. Today, Automotives will give a rear-view glance of some events and people who made 2010 a memorable one.

• Road deaths soar past 300 mark, again

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

It's back to the drawing board for local traffic authorities who failed to achieve their objective of getting the number of road deaths below the 300 mark in 2010.

According to figures from the Road Safety Unit at the Ministry of Transport and Works, 315 road fatalities had been recorded in Jamaica as of December 30. There were 347 traffic-related deaths here in 2009.

Lucien Jones, deputy chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), is disappointed that despite several educational campaigns, road deaths surpassed 300 for the 10th straight year.

He admitted that making that target is 'difficult but realistic', pointing to a reduction in deaths in most months last year. Jones said the figures in the first two quarters of 2010 were encouraging, but things took a turn in May when one of the year's most momentous events took place.

"The incident in west Kingston saw a movement of police personnel and the sustained police effort could not be maintained in terms of presence," Jones explained.

After security forces stormed the west Kingston enclave of Tivoli Gardens in search of alleged drug lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the government utilised much of its police resources to ensure stability throughout the capital.

This month, the NRSC and other organisations involved in road safety are scheduled to meet with prime minister and NRSC chairman Bruce Golding to discuss new strategy.

One of the topics expected to be on the agenda is to get legislation passed in parliament that would encourage proper road use. Jones believes this could be key to a significant reduction in deaths of motorists and pedestrians in 2011.

One of the main components of this legislation would be the prosecution of drivers for talking on cellular phones. A new-look ticketing system and the installation of surveillance cameras at trouble spots are also on the cards, Jones said.

The Ministry of National Security's revised ticketing system is expected to come on stream in some parishes by February. It will see traffic cops utilising an electronic database, which provides information on drivers who have infringed.

It will also show if they have a record of delinquency and, if so, whether they have honoured court dates and paid fines.

The last time Jamaica saw less than 300 road deaths was in 1999 when 295 fatalities were recorded. The NRSC, which was established in 2001, has collaborated with teams from the ministries of Justice, Transport and Works, National Security, and Health to promote responsible use of the roads.