Representatives from the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), the Transport Authority, the Police Traffic Division and the National Works Agency are unanimous in their assessment: it is extremely dangerous to be a motorist or pedestrian on Jamaican roads.

In outlining their perspective at a Gleaner Editors' Forum last week, the representatives cited statistics to reinforce their concerns.

More than 70 per cent of the country's main roads are in a bad to deplorable condition which often contribute to fatal accidents; an estimated 70 per cent of Jamaican male drivers, according to a Pan American Health Organisation study, did not obtain their driver's licence by legitimate means; and, systems implemented a few years ago to mitigate accidents such as the police use of breathalyser equipment and their monitoring of offenders through the issuing of traffic tickets, have all broken down significantly.

While data from the NRSC point to a downward trend over the past four years in the number of fatalities resulting from road accidents - from 408 in 2002 to 326 last year - there clearly is a breakdown in the supporting administrative infrastructure to maintain this momentum.

Additionally, a well-established racket continues unabated - that of illiterates and untrained people being able to buy their driver's licence and for faulty motor cars to be declared fit without the vehicles being brought near an examination depot. Poor monitoring and the 'greasing' of palms allow many miscreants to slip through.

This situation is exacerbated by crater-filled roadways which are poorly maintained and inadequately repaired. Sometimes within two days of 'extensive repairs,' the road surfaces begin to collapse again. Clearly, either the workmen do not know what they are doing and are poorly supervised or substandard material is being used. Inevitably, the country pays a heavy price in lives and man-hours lost, as well as in tax dollars, to have the work done over.

Public education about the proper use of the road can go only so far. And yes, people have a responsibility to themselves. But the business of government is to ensure that there are functioning administrative systems and sanctions in place to deal with people who do not care to live within the ambit of the law.

There must be increased monitoring by the police to reduce reckless overtaking, especially by drivers of route taxis; there must be strict enforcement of alcohol limits (in riders, drivers, and pedestrians); and, there needs to be better lighting and visibility on our main thoroughfares.

The multisectoral effort requires that the Government make available the resources necessary for improved safety. As in so many other areas of national life, what is needed is the political will and the commitment to follow through on common sense and practical solutions to the problems that ail us.

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