THE simple act of venturing beyond their gate has become a deadly affair for many Jamaican children. Decisions such as a stroll to buys sweets or visiting a friend next door have proved costly for some kids at the hands of motorists.

According to the Ministry of Transport and Works' Road Safety Unit, 10 children have lost lives on the nation's roads since January. Of that amount seven were pedestrians, about the same when compared with the same period last year.

"Children are our future, and it is imperative for adults to provide the necessary guidance," said Kenute Hare, director of the Road Safety Unit.

The report also stated that 40 per cent of the children were under five while 50 per cent belonged to the five-to-nine age group.

Hare made the case that children are not psychologically and physiologically 'up to speed' to be alone in a traffic environment.

Horrible accident

"They are unable to correctly determine the speed of an oncoming vehicle and not being tall enough places them at a disadvantage," he said.

Joylene Griffiths-Irving, executive director of the Scotiabank Foundation, said these disadvantages encouraged her organisation to educate children in proper road use.

"There was a horrible accident near Constant Spring/Dunrobin roads intersection in 2003," said Griffiths-Irving, the Scotiabank Foundation's director of public, corporate and government affairs. "We realised that many kids were not using the roads correctly ... so we started with pedestrian crossings that year."

Since then, Griffiths-Irving says her organisation has worked tirelessly in collaboration with the police and other related parties, such as street crossing wardens and schools, in getting its safety message out.

Griffiths-Irving said the foundation's efforts are bearing fruit but explained that there is another area that needed urgent attention.

"The problem is with the adults," she said. "They need to look out for the kids on the roads."

Hare thinks he has the solution to this problem. His organisation recently launched the Children Against Reckless Driving campaign, which utilises children to spread the importance of road safety to their parents and guardians.

"They are urged to encourage their parents and guardians to observe proper safety measures on the roads," said Hare.

These measures include wearing of helmets, seat belts and observing speed limits.

Encouraging creativity

The Road Safety Unit executive said children are also encouraged to make posters and cards and submit them to his organisation for assessment.

"This brings out their creativity," he added.

Superintendent Claude Reynolds, head of the Police Traffic Division, believes parents are critical to their children's safety.

"Parents must know that kids have limitations," Supt Reynolds said. "And that their child's safety is their responsibility."

Reynolds said, in addition to addressing children at their schools and increased presence on the roads, his organisation has targeted civic groups and clubs where parents could be addressed.

"Road safety is everybody's business," he said.

brian.bonitto@gleanerjm.com