Powell to help put brakes on speedsters

Olympic gold medallist Asafa Powell recently endorsed the United Nations Decade of Action for Global Road Safety campaign, scheduled to run from 2011 to 2020.

The occasion took place at the Jamaica Automobile Association's (JAA) headquarters on Central Avenue, St Andrew.

The road-safety campaign aims to reduce road fatalities in Jamaica.

Powell's endorsement came in the form of the signing of the UN declaration.

David Ward, director general of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, said the thrust had been receiving a great deal of support from agencies and organisations worldwide.

A symposium was held at the University of the West Indies, Mona Visitors' Lodge, last Thursday.

Earl Jarrett, chairman of the JAA, welcomed Powell's endorsement as a tremendous boost for the local leg of the campaign.

"The UN notes that the number of deaths resulting from road crashes is now higher than deaths caused by infectious diseases such as malaria," Jarrett said. "Therefore, it is important for us to have all hands on deck to reduce the number of road fatalities and preserve our human capital."

Reckless driving

Powell said he was happy to be part of the programme.

"It's definitely safety first, and in Jamaica, there's a lot of reckless driving on the roads, so we need to take it down a notch," Powell advised. "I am glad I can be a part of this, it's a confidence boost for me. And seeing that I have some fast cars, I will have to lead by example and keep the speed to the tracks."

According to the UN, some 1.3 million people die every year around the world in traffic crashes.

- Laranzo Dacres

CAPTION: Asafa Powell, world-class sprinter, shows off his road safety tag after signing the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 in support of worldwide efforts to reduce road fatalities by 50 per cent over the 10-year period. He endorsed the UN declaration at a reception held at the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA) in Swallowfield, St Andrew, recently. Witnessing the signing were: David Ward (left seated), director general of the Fédération Internationale de l' Automobile; Earl Jarrett (right, seated), chairman of the JAA; and (standing from left) Assistant Commissioner of Police Ray Powell; Duane Ellis, general manager of the JAA; Paula Fletcher, executive director of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC); and Dr Lucien Jones, vice-chairman of the NRSC.  - Contributed