The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that after meeting last week with the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) and participated in their road safety reviews, in a statement later released it has been confirmed that despite proactive efforts by the government of Jamaica through the NRSC and its members the death toll remains alarmingly high each year.
According to the Road Safety Unit, Jamaica recorded 425 road fatalities in 2023. The report showed that the crisis is fueled by indiscipline and social determinants such as excessive speeding and disregard for road rules.
The information collected by the PAHO also revealed that Jamaica’s road safety rate of 18 percent per 100,000 per year is higher than the average for the region of the Americas, which is 14.1. The PAHO said this placed the country in a tie for thirteen out of nineteen positions regarding the lowest rates of road fatalities among countries in the Americas. The report revealed that Jamaica’s fatalities is 3.5 times higher than its Caribbean neighbor, Trinidad and Tobago and only marginally lower than the average rate for the African Region at ten.
The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization representative for Jamaica, Bermuda and the Grand Cayman, Ian Stein in commenting, emphasized the immediate need for intersectoral and all-of-government approach to formulate and enforce effective policies and interventions.
Stein said the figures are disappointing but road safety challenges in Jamaica present “real opportunities for improvement” with particular attention needed to address alarming statistics related to motorcycle fatalities.
The PAHO said it is actively collaborating with the NRSC in enhancing road safety strategies to create a safer and more sustainable transport environment across the country. In 2023, the PAHO also supported a road safety management capacity review conducted by NRSC.
PAHO is also leading the implementation of a collaboration with the United Nations Road Safety Fund, focusing on the Safe System Approach for safter roads in Jamaica.
The Caribbean Life newspaper spoke to Jamaican, Brendalyn McKnight a registered nurse who recently visited Jamaica and she said her concerns are with the behavior of the drivers who are careless on the streets. The speed and disregard for streets laws must be stopped, she said.
The PAHO said the efforts to improve focused on road safety management, behavior improvement, and post-crash care outcomes in alignment with the World Health Organization/United Nations Global Plan for the Decade of Action Road Safety 2021-2030.
