Dr. Lucien Jones, vice president of the National Road Safety Council, and Paula Fletcher, executive director of the NRSC, scrutinise figures related to the number of persons who have perished in more than 2,033 motor vehicle accidents since January. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer IMPROPER OVERTAKING, following too closely behind another vehicle, speeding, swerving and failing to keep a straight course in the proper traffic lane, are among the main causes of the more than 2,033 traffic accidents which have occurred throughout the island from January to August 2002, the police say.
But, according to reports, there has been an increase in the number of fatal accidents as well as fatalities, when compared with the figures for the corresponding period in 2001.
"Up to today (yesterday), we have 291 fatalities and 261 accidents, as against 258 accidents and 285 fatalities for last year," Supt. Federick Williams, head of the Police Traffic Department, said yesterday.
Among the victims of the road carnage are at least 40 children who have perished this year. This is three fewer than the number killed in the corresponding period last year. The total number of children killed in 2001 was 44; most of which were pedestrians.
In an effort to reduce the carnage on the roads, the National Road Safety Council, in collaboration with the police have implemented measures to tackle the problem.
Paula Fletcher, executive director of the NRSC, said that several companies have been invited to send their employees to participate in the defensive driving course.
"Individuals have also been approached. It is not free, we are still trying to fine-tune the cost," Mrs. Fletcher said.
Alphanso Grennell, instructor of the defensive driving course, said the term "defensive driving" was popular because many people believed that this may be the solution to the lawlessness on the roads islandwide.
He said the course equips drivers with knowledge and safe driving techniques geared toward preventing costly collisions and traffic violations. It focuses on accident avoidance through training in hazard recognition, the application of accident-prevention techniques and it encourages the cultivation of safe attitudes and behaviour on the road.
The police, on their part, will be launching an anti-drunk drive campaign early next month, targeting motorists who continue to violate road traffic laws.
"I will have no mercy on motorists who breach the law," Supt. Williams said.
In another three weeks, the police are expected to launch their new ticketing system, with a pilot project in south St. Catherine. Each police personnel will carry a small computer in which data will be entered and later transferred to the main computer system.
Also, the police are reporting that between July and October 24, a total of 65 motorists were breath-tested; 25 were positive, 16 negative.
