NRSC training motorcyclists in bid to save lives
Published:Wednesday | December 27, 2023 | 12:10 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has undertaken a programme to train motorcyclists in the operation of their motorbikes, given that investigations into traffic crashes have shown that most are unable to competently operate their vehicles.
“It’s basically training the motorcyclists how to drive because many of them can’t drive,” vice-chairman of the NRSC, Dr Lucien Jones told The Gleaner. “Another aspect of it is that many of them aren’t licensed drivers and they are uninsured and they are not wearing helmets.”
Of the 415 persons killed on the roads up to yesterday, 129 were motorcyclists based on data received by the council.
The training, which is focused only on western Jamaica due to lack of funding, has already covered Westmoreland and St Elizabeth, with motorcyclists in Hanover and Trelawny due to be engaged.
With the data showing that most of the motorcyclists killed or injured were not wearing safety helmets at the time they crashed, the NRSC is moving to address that issue with urgency.
“So, there is a second programme we have now which is funded by our international partners to create a climate where they will want to wear helmets and helmets that are of the right standards,” Jones said.
According to the National Safety Council out of the United States (US), Thailand has the highest number of motorcycle-related deaths in the world, with 74.4 per cent of motorcycle deaths. The country is also known as having one of the most dangerous road infrastructures in the entire region of southeast Asia.
Globally, over the last 10 years, deaths have increased 19 per cent, with the number of motorcycle fatalities at 5,932 and the number of non-fatal injuries increased by 5 per cent, while the injury rate decreased by four per cent from 2020 to 2021.
In the US, although motorcycles make up only three per cent of all registered vehicles, motorcyclists accounted for 14 per cent of all traffic fatalities, 17 per cent of all occupant fatalities, and three per cent of all occupant injuries in 2021.