Death Roads of Jamaica

The roads of Jamaica are especially dangerous. Already riddled with potholes, lack of signs and over grown bush, the roads cough out many challenges to motorists. There is also the problem of trucks that believe they own the road and those that fail to properly secure their contents especially sand, gravel and stones. However the greatest challenge and danger comes from the careless and reckless nature of other drivers.

When you travel on the roads you really have to pray for journey mercies as the angel of death seems to be stalking. Despite the general decrease in road fatalities, the holiday "silly" season is here and we are already seeing the madness. Over the week-end I saw the results of one accident in person (where was my camera) and the other on the local television stations.

The first accident was curious as it seems that two motor vehicles traveling in opposite directions towards each other collided with the impact being on the front right side of each vehicle. It seems that someone failed to keep left on the road or as we say in Jamaica "cut the corner". The result one vehicle became a burning inferno and was burnt to the shell. The other was badly damaged with right front wheel & suspension separated from the vehicle

In the second accident, I am still trying to figure out how a green Rover 620 Series motor car plowed into a Police Highway Patrol vehicle parked on the soft shoulder of Highway 2000 killing an off-duty police officer standing beside the vehicle talking to his colleagues. Highway 2000 is one road where visibility is great, there is no overgrown bush and the signs are everywhere. I guess we will now be seeing speed traps on that Highway now.

Traveling between Montego Bay and Kingston every weekend for the last few weeks I have is seen so many cases of bad driving. I must say in many regards this is the worst weekend I have seen. It is evident in the increased frequency in which motor vehicles are overtaking around blind corners, overtaking and forcing oncoming motorist to take the soft shoulders and overtaking even when signaled to stop to allow pedestrians to cross. Every one seems in a great hurry. Then there are the trucks that try everyone’s patience. They refuse to pull over where possible to allow anyone to pass them. It is clear the silly season is here.

Speeding is probably the major cause of the problems but there are other causes such as defective vehicles, carelessness, distractions and poor judgment. Slow down, cut your speed, I will, take it easy and ensure that your family and the families of other motorists have a happy holidays and a happy new year.

Details on Cop's Death
Gleaner's Version
Observer's Version
RJR's Version

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