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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : NRSC sees critical n...d crashes ...</span>
The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is this year intensifying its lobby efforts for policy and practices which will improve and streamline an emergency response system for victims of road crashes. This is in keeping with the requirements of theNRSC's Save 300 Lives Project, which identifies this area as critical to improving road safety. Currently there is no dedicated ambulance service or single emergency toll-free number for ambulance/fire/police, which persons, or even the authorities, can contact for assistance, in the event of a road crash. Executive Director of the NRSC, Paula Fletcher, indicates that her organization is working with other state agencies with the view of establishing efficient emergency response services for persons who are injured in traffic crashes. "There is a shortage of ambulances in the public health system and those that exist are used to transfer patients between hospitals. Approximately 6 ambulances, for emergency response, are in the western section of the island and are operated by the Fire Services. These ambulances were acquired prior to the hosting of World Cup Cricket in 2007," says Mrs. Fletcher. "There is an urgent need for an adequate number of ambulances to be assigned to respond to road crashes islandwide". She also underlines the necessity for a designated emergency telephone number "to activate response from the police, fire department and ambulance services for injured persons at the scene of a road crash." The NRSC is this year also batting for the development of an electronic surveillance system. The system would be used to detect breaches of certain road regulations such as the breaking of the traffic lights, as well as speeding. Mrs. Fletcher discloses that the policy and legislative framework for the electronic surveillance system is currently being prepared. The NRSC believes the use of technology has to be the way forward, as a policeman cannot be on every stretch of roadway. Additionally, its use will reduce the human element in the observance of the law, making it less vulnerable to corrupt practices such as bribery and "negotiation". Meanwhile, Head of the Police Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis is expressing the view that there was a reduction in traffic crashes last year due mainly to the increased police presence on the roads and the heightened awareness generated by the Road Safety Public Education. There is a recognition however, that the heightened need for police services after the events of May 24, 2010, may have pulled the already strained police resources, away from traffic enforcement, to deal with crime. Therefore, the rate of reduction in traffic fatalities in the earlier part of the year experienced a slide in the latter part of the year. In spite of this there was a 9.8 percent decline in road fatalities in 2010 when compared with the previous year. The Head of the Traffic Division reports that the police's vigilance on the road was increased during the Christmas period and this increased visibility is continuing islandwide. "We will definitely be monitoring the behaviour on the roads through more police presence. Spot Checks and Speed Checks will be increased," Senior Superintendent Radcliff Lewis pointed out in an interview. He says the police will be prosecuting those motorists who violate regulations having to do with "tinting their vehicles" and the acceptable level at which music should be played. "We will not be tolerating the loud music on vehicles. The police will also be employing several measures to ensure the safety of pedestrian and passengers," reports the Head of the Police Traffic Division. He sayscrash prone areas in Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland will be particularly targeted during this month. Meanwhile, Superintendent Courtney Coubrie of the Police Traffic Division is underscoring the need for motorists to practice good driving habits. He points out that speeding, motorists following too closely behind vehicles; improper overtaking and disobeying traffic lights and road signs cause most crashes. He reports that over 6,000 traffic tickets have been issued for speeding violations alone, since the police received fifty radar guns, which were deployed islandwide during mid-December. "There has been a marked improvement in the behaviour of motorists on the roads, especially in the corporate area, since our speed checks have increased," states Superintendent Courtney Coubrie. He believes the careless overtaking has been reduced and "motorists are driving with more care." Superintendent Coubrie is attributing the reduced traffic congestion and easier traffic flow along some of Kingston/St. Andrew's thoroughfares, to the increased police monitoring of those roadways. He says because of the multiple speed checks, public transport do not stop arbitrarily on many of these roads. Since the start of the year, there have been four fatal crashes and nine fatalities - eight of which are pedestrians. The noted feature of fatal crashes since this year is that of multiple fatalities per crash. Ambulance crew carry injured driver to Hospital for treatmentPhoto Credit: OGNR Reporter Greg 'bigbomb' Clarkehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...70193156357247
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : NRSC sees critical n...d crashes ...</span>
The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is this year intensifying its lobby efforts for policy and practices which will improve and streamline an emergency response system for victims of road crashes. This is in keeping with the requirements of theNRSC's Save 300 Lives Project, which identifies this area as critical to improving road safety. Currently there is no dedicated ambulance service or single emergency toll-free number for ambulance/fire/police, which persons, or even the authorities, can contact for assistance, in the event of a road crash. Executive Director of the NRSC, Paula Fletcher, indicates that her organization is working with other state agencies with the view of establishing efficient emergency response services for persons who are injured in traffic crashes. "There is a shortage of ambulances in the public health system and those that exist are used to transfer patients between hospitals. Approximately 6 ambulances, for emergency response, are in the western section of the island and are operated by the Fire Services. These ambulances were acquired prior to the hosting of World Cup Cricket in 2007," says Mrs. Fletcher. "There is an urgent need for an adequate number of ambulances to be assigned to respond to road crashes islandwide". She also underlines the necessity for a designated emergency telephone number "to activate response from the police, fire department and ambulance services for injured persons at the scene of a road crash." The NRSC is this year also batting for the development of an electronic surveillance system. The system would be used to detect breaches of certain road regulations such as the breaking of the traffic lights, as well as speeding. Mrs. Fletcher discloses that the policy and legislative framework for the electronic surveillance system is currently being prepared. The NRSC believes the use of technology has to be the way forward, as a policeman cannot be on every stretch of roadway. Additionally, its use will reduce the human element in the observance of the law, making it less vulnerable to corrupt practices such as bribery and "negotiation". Meanwhile, Head of the Police Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis is expressing the view that there was a reduction in traffic crashes last year due mainly to the increased police presence on the roads and the heightened awareness generated by the Road Safety Public Education. There is a recognition however, that the heightened need for police services after the events of May 24, 2010, may have pulled the already strained police resources, away from traffic enforcement, to deal with crime. Therefore, the rate of reduction in traffic fatalities in the earlier part of the year experienced a slide in the latter part of the year. In spite of this there was a 9.8 percent decline in road fatalities in 2010 when compared with the previous year. The Head of the Traffic Division reports that the police's vigilance on the road was increased during the Christmas period and this increased visibility is continuing islandwide. "We will definitely be monitoring the behaviour on the roads through more police presence. Spot Checks and Speed Checks will be increased," Senior Superintendent Radcliff Lewis pointed out in an interview. He says the police will be prosecuting those motorists who violate regulations having to do with "tinting their vehicles" and the acceptable level at which music should be played. "We will not be tolerating the loud music on vehicles. The police will also be employing several measures to ensure the safety of pedestrian and passengers," reports the Head of the Police Traffic Division. He sayscrash prone areas in Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland will be particularly targeted during this month. Meanwhile, Superintendent Courtney Coubrie of the Police Traffic Division is underscoring the need for motorists to practice good driving habits. He points out that speeding, motorists following too closely behind vehicles; improper overtaking and disobeying traffic lights and road signs cause most crashes. He reports that over 6,000 traffic tickets have been issued for speeding violations alone, since the police received fifty radar guns, which were deployed islandwide during mid-December. "There has been a marked improvement in the behaviour of motorists on the roads, especially in the corporate area, since our speed checks have increased," states Superintendent Courtney Coubrie. He believes the careless overtaking has been reduced and "motorists are driving with more care." Superintendent Coubrie is attributing the reduced traffic congestion and easier traffic flow along some of Kingston/St. Andrew's thoroughfares, to the increased police monitoring of those roadways. He says because of the multiple speed checks, public transport do not stop arbitrarily on many of these roads. Since the start of the year, there have been four fatal crashes and nine fatalities - eight of which are pedestrians. The noted feature of fatal crashes since this year is that of multiple fatalities per crash. Ambulance crew carry injured driver to Hospital for treatmentPhoto Credit: OGNR Reporter Greg 'bigbomb' Clarkehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...70193156357247