WESTERN JAMAICA SHOWS POSITIVE TREND IN REDUCTION IN ROAD FATALITIES

All the western parishes are reporting a marked decline in road fatalities, which is more significant than the national reduction in road deaths.  More Jamaicans are exercising caution on the nation’s roads as indicated by the 30% decrease in fatalities, and a 26% decline in fatal crashes. From January 1 to June 3, there were 115 deaths on the roads islandwide, compared to 164 that were recorded for the corresponding period last year. Fatal crashes have moved from 145 last year to 108 for the corresponding period this year.
                                                                 
Of the western parishes, Westmoreland showed the highest decline of 55% moving from 20 deaths last year, to nine this year. Trelawny, followed closely with a 50% decrease, shifting from eight to two fatalities. St. James and Hanover both recorded a 33% decline as the figures dropped from 12 to eight and nine to six respectively.

Forty-eight-year-old road crash survivor, Barrington Waldo is breathing a sigh of relief that more road users are exercising greater care. He is of the view that his firm belief in God enabled him to survive a terrible crash almost seven years ago. Three persons, including a female, were left dead, while Waldo sustained multiple injuries in the mishap that occurred along the Duncans to Falmouth main road, in the vicinity of Spring Hill.  “It must have been a miracle and my firm belief in the Creator; there is no other way to explain it,” Waldo reasoned, as he reflected on the incident.

The crash occurred about 2:30 pm on October 27, 2003, while Waldo, a tailor of Clarks Town, Trelawny, was travelling westerly towards Falmouth. Minutes earlier, Waldo had picked up three friends- two males and a female who had asked for a ride into the Trelawny capital. He later collided with a truck that was parked on the soft shoulder of road, and was about to drive onto the main road as Waldo’s vehicle approached.  “When the truck pulled out on the road my car ran straight under it. The whole thing happened so fast, I couldn’t avoid it,” he explained. All the occupants were taken to the nearby Falmouth General Hospital, where the passengers who had suffered multiple injuries were pronounced dead.

The driver of the truck escaped injuries, but Waldo suffered multiple fractures to both legs; his left hand was broken, as well as several of his ribs. His lungs were also punctured making it difficult for him to breathe. Additionally, there were lacerations all over his body. Within two days, Waldo was transferred to the Cornwall Regional Hospital and later air lifted to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), where he spent almost a week on a life saving machine. Waldo underwent numerous surgeries and raked up huge medical bills, as doctors worked around the clock to ensure his recovery.   In spite of the pain and mounting medical bills, however, Waldo remained confident that he would pull through. “During my time in hospital I did not worry, I just kept on praising God.  I knew that God was there for me so I did not worry too much about my situation,” he said.

A father of two at the time of the crash, Waldo said he received tremendous financial support from his sister, Lorraine Golding, during his illness. “My sister was there for me. God provided her for me because she was a tower of strength and was there for me at all times,” Waldo said of her sister, who was living in Kingston. A little after a year after the crash, Waldo was able to resume his job as a tailor at a North Coast hotel.

The crash involving Waldo occurred at one of Trelawny’s crash-prone spots. Former National footballer Stephen ‘Shorty’ Malcolm was killed in a motor vehicle collision in 1998 in that vicinity. The Police indicate that other ‘black spots’ in the parish include the Martha Brae and Salt Marsh main roads. Some crash-prone areas in western Jamaica include:  Norman Manley Boulevard, Petersfield, and New Hope areas of Westmoreland; Reading, Rose Hall and Unity Hall, in St James; Point and Round Hill in Hanover and Barbary Hall, Shaw main road and Rocky Hill in St Elizabeth.

Head of the Police Traffic Analysis Unit, Sergeant Beverly Hill – Wright, is expressing the view that there has been a marked reduction in traffic crashes in western Jamaica and other parishes due mainly to the increased police presence on the roads and an ongoing road safety programme by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC). “There could be a further reduction in fatalities if motorists practice good driving habits while using the roadway,” said Hill-Wright. She cites some common causes of traffic accidents as: motorists following too closely behind vehicles; speeding; disobeying traffic lights and road signs; turning without due care; improper overtaking and crossing heedlessly.

Topping the charts in national declines is fatalities for public passenger vehicle (PPV) passengers. This category saw an 86% decrease, moving from seven deaths last year, to one for the same period this year.

The latest figures show commercial motorcar passengers and drivers placing second and third respectively in the list of declines, with percentages of 75% and 57.14%. Commercial motorcar passenger fatalities decreased from four in the same period last year to one for this year, while commercial motorcar drivers moved from seven to three.

However, even with the significant declines in fatalities, concerns for children in the 14 and under age group continue to resurface as figures show a 27% hike. Chairman of the National Road Safety Council Dr. Lucien Jones is expressing concern that too many Jamaican children are losing their lives through road crashes. “The latest figures show an increase from 15 deaths last year to 19 for the corresponding period this year. This includes an increase in fatalities in the pedestrian category- from 10 deaths last year to 13, one last year to two for the corresponding period this year, and four deaths for both period in the private motorcar passenger group,” said Dr. Jones.

Pedestrian deaths have also climbed, moving from 43 for the corresponding period last year to 50 for this year, an increase of 16.28%.
 
Meanwhile, there has been a welcome 44.48% drop in death of motorcyclists, as the declines continued to June 3, moving from 25 last year to 14. Pillion passenger fatalities remained stationary at two.

There was a marked decline in figures for private motorcar passengers, trending down from 28 in the corresponding period last year to 16 deaths this year, a 43% decline.

Private motorcar driver fatalities also continue to show a decline, as there were 32 deaths this year, compared to 19 who lost their lives last year in the corresponding period, a 41% decline.

PPV driver fatalities recorded another decline, moving from three deaths last year to two his year, 33.33% slump.  Pedal cyclist fatalities also showed a decrease, indicating a 46.15% reduction in deaths as seven pedal cyclists were killed since January 1, compared to 13 who lost their lives in the corresponding period last year.