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The Government has supported the work of the National Helmet Wearing Coalition (NHWC) by donating 2,000 helmets to be distributed to motorcyclists islandwide.
Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang said during the handover of protective gear at the Jamaica National (JN) Group of Companies offices on Oxford Road in St. Andrew on Wednesday (June 12) that too many cyclists, especially young males, are left disabled as a result of road accidents.
Therefore, he said the government felt it necessary to support road safety efforts by donating helmets worth $28 million.
The Minister said that alongside safety support and public education, it was important to emphasise that wearing a helmet saves lives and protects other road users who come into contact with cyclists.
JN Foundation President Parris A. Lyew-Ayee said the provision of helmets will greatly enhance the coalition’s efforts to promote road safety, while acknowledging the Ministry of National Security as a “critical partner”.
“We have a comprehensive plan to distribute these helmets, focusing on underserved communities and groups to ensure broad availability,” he said.
The NHWC’s remit is to advocate for greater helmet wearing by riders and pillion passengers and to undertake research, stakeholder planning and engagement activities, as well as to examine and understand the current situation regarding helmets and helmet wearing in Jamaica.
According to the National Road Safety Commission, approximately 600 motorcyclists have been killed on Jamaican roads since 2012, with more than 90 percent not wearing helmets at the time of the accident.
Data from the Ministries of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport and the Jamaica Constabulary Force indicate that these fatalities account for approximately 30 percent of all road traffic fatalities in Jamaica during that period.
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