From the Jamaica Gleaner
Human missiles, often disguised as drivers on the Jamaican roads, have inflicted untold grief and harrowing sorrow on many families. The latest example of this took place on Monday when six people were killed along Highway 2000 near the Vineyard Toll Plaza, Clarendon. In the most tragic twist of fate, these victims reportedly were returning from a funeral.
Reports indicate that one of the vehicles involved in the accident was overloaded, and there are allegations that one of the drivers might have been speeding along the wet and slippery road. We leave the details to the police investigators to sort out, but note that the reports of the circumstances surrounding this accident are all too common across Jamaica.
But for providence, road fatalities in Jamaica would be much higher. Too many people in motor vehicles drive with reckless abandon that puts their lives and those of other motorists at risk.
The drivers of route taxis and minibuses on some of the Corporate Area roads are especially guilty. They often overtake lines of traffic at breakneck speed forcing other motorists to move out of their way or risk extensive damage to their vehicles and possible loss of lives.
Unfortunately, the traffic policemen who lurk on side-roads and behind bushes seeking to catch motorists travelling above the speed limit or who may not have all their required papers intact are often nowhere to be found in places where they are most obviously needed.
This aspect of policing needs to be seriously re-examined, for it would appear that greater resources have been put into catching persons guilty of relatively minor offences as against those who flout laws with impunity and regularity.
Monday’s accident provides a sobering reminder that despite the decline in the number of fatalities recorded by the National Road Safety Council, much work remains to be done. According to the council, there were fewer road fatalities up to September 18 this year – 242 deaths from 242 accidents, compared to last year’s 255 deaths from 220 accidents.
No doubt, the poor conditions of Jamaican roads, the absence of adequate signs in far too many places and defective vehicles contribute significantly to the high accident rate.
Even with the problems the police have had with their breathalyser equipment, anecdotal evidence does not suggest that drunk drivers contribute to accidents to that great an extent. The single biggest factor, however, is the recklessness and indiscipline added to great impatience on the part of far too many Jamaican motorists. It is past time for the police to exercise zero tolerance with motorists who are a clear menace to society.
A redoubling of the public education efforts of the NRSC is required, but so too is strong prosecution for those who flout the law. This must, of necessity, include greater monitoring of the process by which driver’s licences are issued to human missiles.
We recognise that even persons who obtained their licences legitimately may soon ‘forget’ the lessons of exercising due care and thought for other drivers that they were taught.
But it is also clear that far too many persons have been given permits to drive when they should be banned. Our popular culture unfortunately celebrates juvenile bravado as evidence of manliness. This must be arrested.
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