NRSC increases school visits - Safety concerns raised at Mona, Jonathan Grant high schools

The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has increased the frequency of its public-education awareness programme in schools, in observance of National Road Safety Awareness Month. The Council's school visits are timely in light of its growing concerns over the dramatic increase in child fatalities, especially child pedestrian fatalities.

From January 1 to June 6 this year, in comparison to the same period last year, child fatalities moved from eight to 12, representing a 50 per cent increase. The figure for child pedestrian fatalities is even more alarming. For January 1 to June 6 last year there was one fatality. In comparison, during the corresponding period this year it jumped to five in a 400 per cent increase.

Dr Lucien Jones, NRSC vice-chairman/convenor, has renewed his appeal for citizens to show more care and caution on the roads, especially towards children: "Let us make it our responsibility to preserve and protect the lives of our children and others while using the roadways," Jones said.

Among the schools visited by the NRSC are Jonathan Grant High in St Catherine, as well as Dunrobin Primary and Mona High in St Andrew. Sharing his concerns on road safety, 17-year-old Raymond Harris of Mona High complained that he was "intimidated many times" due to the careless driving of many motorists. He urged public transport operators to obey the traffic regulations and be more caring towards pedestrians, especially children pedestrians.

IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT

Dr O'neil Ankle, principal of Jonathan Grant High, has appealed for the authorities to improve the traffic environment for students by putting proper sidewalks along sections of White Church Street in Spanish Town.

This improvement, he said, would benefit students of both Spanish Town Primary and Jonathan Grant High schools. Dr Ankle pointed out that children are forced to walk on the road because there are no sidewalks in some areas.

"The situation is a disaster waiting to happen and should be urgently addressed by the parish council or the National Works Agency (NWA)," Dr Ankle said. He also suggested that guard rails be placed on some sections of the sidewalk to protect students who are pedestrians.

He lamented that a utility company which did repairs in the area has left mounds of earth piled on the side of the roads, posing difficulties to pedestrians, especially students.

Dr Ankle also urged the police to maintain a presence on the roadway in the afternoon, to deter speeding mini-bus drivers who endanger the children.