Sun | Jun 7, 2026

7 steps to safety

Published:Sunday | May 11, 2014 | 12:00 AM
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Egerton Newman, president of the Transport Operators Development LSustainable Service.
A fireman washes the road after a woman reportedly fell off a motorcycle in the vicinity of the St Andrew Technical High School and was run over by a fire truck last year.-File PHOTOS
The driver of this car lost control and crashed into a tree along the Mandela High Way in St Catherine last December. He was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital in a serious condition and died later - file.
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Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

For May, private operators of public passenger vehicles (PPV) will be focusing specially on road safety, as they officially recognise the month dedicated to that issue.

Their theme for May is 'Road Safety: Community Response'.

The Transport Operators Development Sustainable Service (TODSS) announced a seven-point plan of action to raise awareness and reduce the number of fatal crashes in Jamaica. Egerton Newman, president of TODDS, said it is important that all road users, especially private PPV operators, take this proactive approach as they try to shed the stigma of being road hogs or, as he described it, "weapons of mass destruction".

"Fatal crashes on our roads are now like a runaway train and it cannot be allowed to continue," Newman said.

Speaking at Rodney's Arms in Portmore, St Catherine, recently, Newman emphasised that road safety should not be the sole responsibility of agencies like the National Road Safety Council, but should be a collective effort.

"We need a National Road Safety Prevention Plan with a community focus, as the conditions that give rise to fatal crashes are multifaceted and need a community response," Newman said. The seven-point plan he announced was:

1. The immediate establishment of a private/public sector social development intervention plan of action to reduce fatal crashes and road accidents. This would be coordinated by the Social Development Commission, engaging the full support of community-based organisations.

2. The establishment of a Corporate Workplace Road Safety Awards programme for companies operating more than 10 vehicles. Companies would be awarded based on their internal and external road-safety programmes and activities.

3. A one-year zero tolerance of road regulations breaches enforcement campaign by a team of 100 new recruits from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, rotating every six months.

4. The development of a special joint media Road Safety Appeal campaign, supported by the private sector and directed by the Media Association Jamaica Ltd.

5. The immediate establishment of a Mobile Road Safety promotional campaign, with a compulsory road safety banner not less than a 8"x11" inches on every PPV islandwide, sponsored by not less than two private sector companies.

6. Revamping, rebranding and improving financing of the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Works. This would give it the capability to become more relevant and give more support to local institutions and community-based organisations' road-safety programmes, as well as coordinate international support.

7. Ensure that the new Road Traffic Act encompasses the views and ideas of the general public.

Newman also suggested that bus drivers should be given refresher courses. "There needs to be a programme to invite drivers to be trained. If we can get drivers and say 'come, we will get someone from Heart Trust and get someone from the Island Traffic Authority to talk to you and re-educate you, you could be the flagship'," Newman explained.

"If these guys have some grandfathers who call them in and say 'look here man, these are some social intervention programmes', you would be surprised to see the change."