HIGH LEVEL JAMAICAN DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRST GLOBAL MINISTERIAL ROAD SAFETY CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW

Kingston, Jamaica:  A five-man delegation led by Transport Minister Hon. Mike Henry will participate in the First Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference, in Moscow, from November 19 to 20. The Delegation includes: Dr Lucien Jones Vice Chairman/Convenor, National Road Safety Council (NRSC) and Co-sponsor of the Save 300 Lives Project; Mrs. Paula Fletcher, Executive Director, NRSC; Mr. Earl Jarrett, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) General Manager and Co-sponsor of the Save 300 Lives Project; and Deputy Commissioner of Police Charles Scarlett of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, a member of the NRSC.

Jamaica’s participation in the First Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference is aimed at supporting the call for the implementation of the policies and strategies of the Decade of Action for Road Safety to be undertaken in 2010-2020.  During this 10-year period the goal is to achieve a 50% cut in projected global road deaths.  This initiative seeks to reduce the current level of road deaths, which, according to projections, will become the leading cause of deaths, overtaking HIV/AIDS by 2020, particularly for low – mid income countries, if there is no appropriate counter action.  The best practices to achieve this goal will be promulgated at the Conference, as there is recognition that the causes of road deaths and injuries are known and are preventable.   It is also recognized that the developed countries have made significant strides in protecting their population of road users and that countries with lower incomes are at a disadvantage in this regard, due to resource constraints.  The Decade of Action for Road Safety seeks to correct this imbalance.

For these lower income countries, sustainable development and therefore, the ability to achieve their Millennium Goals is under threat as many road deaths strain hospital resources, reduces productive potential and weakens the family structure, particularly when the bread winner is lost or is injured.  The Conference will also look at ways in which the international donor community can provide funding to support global, regional and national road safety investment and technical assistance programmes in lower income countries. 

The United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile Foundation (FIA Foundation) are the chief organizers and sponsors of this Conference.

Jamaica’s participation in the Conference has been made possible by JNBS, National Commercial Bank and the FIA Foundation. The First Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference will come on the heels of the World Remembrance Day for Road Crash Victims which is observed on the third Sunday of November each year.

The fastest man in the world, Jamaica’s Hon. Usain Bolt, is endorsing the upcoming Conference and is giving strong backing to the global world safety “Make Roads Safe” campaign.  “ Road Safety is in our hands! Speed belongs on the racetrack, not on our roadways,” Usain Bolt cautions, while declaring that he “supports the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety and the UN Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, Moscow, November 19-20, 2009.”

During the Conference, Transport Minister Mike Henry will on Friday November 20, update the international community on Jamaica’s efforts at reducing deaths and injuries on the nation’s roads, during a Panel Discussion chaired by Tatiana Golikova, Minister of Health, Russian Federation. Mr. Henry believes that in addition to improving areas directly under his portfolio, such as driver training, the rules of the road and road infrastructure, “the health sector can contribute to road safety by improving emergency trauma care and rehabilitation and by supporting and evaluating efforts focusing on changing people’s behaviour on the road.” He also sees the need for the health sector to play a strategic role in collecting and analyzing road-traffic related data and supporting road safety advocacy efforts.

Road fatalities in Jamaica have declined from a high of 408 in 2002 to 343 last year. Minister Henry expresses concern that road fatalities remain a major public health issue, despite a marked reduction in road fatalities. “Despite the decline in fatalities, provisional data indicates that the number of people attending accident and emergency units at Government hospitals, consequent to motor vehicle accidents, has risen nearly 40%,” says Minister Henry. Elaborating on the strain placed on the health sector by road accidents, the Transport Minister cites the example of Kingston Public Hospital, which has estimated that on the basis of cost data derived in 2002, the average cost of treating a motor vehicle crash victim was $12,962. He points out that the cost of injuries exceeded the costs of caring for people with: Obstetric and Gynaecological concerns, Cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, Psychiatric disorders and Diabetes.

Mr. Henry expresses the commitment of his Ministry to play an important role in helping to improve road safety by improving road maintenance - a task which will be made easier by the new gas tax, ensuring a supportive traffic environment and training Transport Workers to support Emergency Medical Teams. The Minister is also indicating that a New Road Traffic Act will shortly come on stream and will include a definition of School Zones, and these areas will require a reduction in speed by motorists. In addition, it is proposed that the New Road Traffic Act will allow for the adoption of an international standard for tyre tread depth and will specify the car window tint level for private vehicles, among other things.

Dr. Lucien Jones points out that the First Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference will assist in strengthening the policy and strategic direction, as well as the advocacy role of the NRSC, while contributing to deepening the political will at the national level for the implementation of road safety activities. The Council, which is chaired by Prime Minister Hon. Bruce Golding, has responsibility for coordinating and developing road safety strategies and programmes.  He says the NRSC is committed to continuing the collaborative approach in encouraging a reduction in the number and severity of crashes in Jamaica. Giving an update on some of the projects of the NRSC, Mrs. Fletcher explains, “The SAVE 300 LIVES Public Education Campaign, an integral part of a Project which was launched on October 2, 2008, outlines the current programme being undertaken to reduce the all too common, needless loss of life and injury suffered by road users. The first objective is to reduce the fatalities on our roads to below 300, on an annual basis.”

The Executive Director of the NRSC also indicates that Jamaica will this Sunday, November 15, join other countries in the observance of World Remembrance Day for Road Crash Victims  - a day introduced by the World Health Organization. A special Church Service marking the day will be held at St. Margaret’s Church. According to Mrs. Fletcher, the NRSC Public Education campaign will continue with messages to encourage drivers to reduce their speed (a major cause of crashes) and to desist from drinking and driving. The latter message is most relevant in view of the Christmas season and the New Year merrymaking.

The National Road Safety Council

Established in 1993 as a non-profit organization by public and private sector interest groups, the mandate of the NRSC is:

* To develop and implement road safety promotional strategies and activities

* To act as a lobby group for the promotion of road safety.

* To conduct public education programmes.

The NRSC is chaired by the Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding and its Council includes representatives of the police, other public sector bodies, the private sector, Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association and Jamaica Automobile Association.

Activities are undertaken with the overall aim of reducing the level of accidents and lowering the cost to society both in terms of human suffering and financial cost.

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Contact:

Erica James-King     
Communication Manager | PROComm
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