Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

Dr. M.D. Sawh (left), consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, chats with Senior Superintendent of Police Ealan Powell, the head of the Police Traffic Division, at yesterday's launch of the Ministry of Transport and Works' defensive driving media and public education campaign titled 'Drive for Life ' at the Hilton hotel, New kingston. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

At least three children with broken bones or limbs as a result of motor vehicle crashes, are admitted weekly to the orthopaedic section of the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St. Andrew, according to surgeon, Dr. M.D. Sawh.

Dr. Sawh made the disclosure yesterday, at the launch of the Road Safety Unit's Defensive Driving Media and Public Education Campaign at the Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston. He told The Gleaner that motorists must be more vigilant with regard to children on the road.

"So many of these children with broken bones are scarred for the rest of their lives because of careless driving by adults," Dr. Sawh, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said.

A fraction of the total number

He said the weekly figure was just a fraction of the total number of children who are injured in motor vehicle crashes.

"Many more are treated in other departments as several receive head injuries," he said.

Of the 357 deaths in road crashes last year, 81 children under age 14 were killed. This figure was an increase over 2005, when 326 persons were killed, including 68 children under 14.

Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Traffic Department, Ealan Powell, said at the launch, that more stringent measures needed to be enforced before a motor vehicle licence was issued.

SSP Powell said that in order to reduce the number of collisions, the manner in which a licence is issued must be addressed.

"I believe it is too easy to get a driver's licence. I see too many people who can't reverse, but have a licence," SSP Powell said.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com