Monthly Archives: June 2025

JN Makes Stirring Call for Regional Effort to Tackle Motorcycle Deaths and Injuries

In a passionate address to stir up urgency, Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, kicked off the Heads-Up Regional Think Tank at the AC Hotel in Kingston with a call for countries in the Caribbean and Latin America to shift the narrative on motorcycle safety to save lives.

Addressing policymakers, motorcyclists, and global road safety advocates, Ms Allen emphasised the urgent need for behavioural change to reduce preventable deaths.

“This is a journey of advocacy and action,” she declared. “The strategy is simple: safe helmets on heads. Every ride. Every time.”

The two-day forum, which culminated on June 20, was organised by the JN Foundation through the National Helmet Wearing Coalition. It comes amid rising concerns about motorcycle crashes across the Caribbean and Latin America. Motorcycle crashes account for close to a third of road fatalities in Jamaica alone, particularly the deaths of men in their prime, productive years a figure Miss Allen says has remained stubbornly unchanged.

“This is now an economic issue,” she stressed. “Our economies are already under strain, and these deaths are creating an invisible but heavy burden. We can’t afford to keep losing our most productive citizens on the roads.”

She highlighted the cultural reasons some riders still shun helmets, from vanity and discomfort to the myth that a short ride doesn’t require protection. She also pointed to systemic gaps, such as the need for certified helmet access, local testing facilities, and tighter enforcement.

But her message wasn’t just about the problems, it was a call to collective action.

“We have an immense task ahead, but it’s not insurmountable,” she said, pointing to successful efforts in other countries like Mexico.

“Over the next two days, we’re not just having a talk shop,” Miss Allen insisted. “We are identifying solutions- regulatory, cultural, economic- that will take us closer to zero.”

With representatives from transport, health, and national security ministries and sectors, as well as motorcyclists sharing their real stories, she said the forum is a critical step in changing the tide.

 “We’re showing up. We’re asking you to participate. And when you leave here, take action. Advocate. Collaborate. Because that’s the only way we’re going to change the story that’s become too familiar,” she pointed out.

Supporting her remarks, Agnieszka Krasnolucka, programme director at the FIA Foundation, underlined the life-saving potential of helmet use. The Foundation is the charitable arm of the FIA, the world governed body for motor sports.

“We know that the safe use of quality helmets reduces the risk of death by over six times and brain injury by up to 74 per cent,” she said.

“That makes every certified helmet wearer a life protector. And yet, too many still ride unprotected not for lack of knowledge, but for lack of access and enforcement,” she added.

Ms Krasnolucka praised Jamaica’s efforts, saying, “This is the first event of its kind in the region, and it’s already proving that regional dialogue can drive real change. We are here to shape safer roads and more resilient communities.”

The urgency to tackle the motorcycle crashes and their consequences was further underscored by Donaree Muirhead, technical assistant in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Transport, representing Minister Darly Vaz, who outlined grim statistics regarding fatalities and injuries from motorcycle incidents so far this year.

 “This is not just a national concern; it’s a regional crisis. The real issue is not motorcycles, it’s the persistent culture of non-compliance, limited access to certified helmets, and enforcement gaps,” she affirmed. We must build a safety culture from the ground up.”

The forum, hosted by the National Helmet Wearing Coalition, a project of the JN Foundation in partnership with the National Road Safety Council, with funding from the FIA Foundation, aims to tackle the challenge of motorcycle safety, particularly helmet wearing, head on, from helmet testing and enforcement to regional collaboration and youth education.

The event has brought together regional and international experts, policymakers, and advocates to tackle the alarming rise in motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities across the Caribbean and Latin America.

As Jamaicans navigate negative behaviours on our roads daily, road rage has become a growing concern on the nation’s thoroughfares. Road rage can lead to serious repercussions, including crashes, injuries, and even fatalities. But what exactly fuels this aggressive behaviour and how can motorists avoid it?

According to Montel Hill, lead – Driving Academy at the JN Foundation, common triggers include heavy traffic, unexpected delays, running late, and feeling disrespected by other drivers, such as being cut off or tailgated. However, these triggers are often compounded by personal stressors such as anxiety, illness, or a bad day, which can make emotional outbursts behind the wheel more likely.

“Road rage is often emotional,” Mr Hill explained. “It’s different from aggressive driving, which can be shaped by context, like rushing to complete more trips to earn an income or reacting to the sounds of revving engines. Road rage, on the other hand, comes from an emotional response to stress, fear, or frustration.”

This view is supported by a 2022 study published in the Journal of Transport & Health, which found that stress and emotional dysregulation are key predictors of road rage. The study concluded that drivers who are more emotionally reactive are more likely to engage in hostile behaviours, especially when they perceive themselves to be disrespected or endangered by others.

A 2016 report by the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety found that nearly 80 per cent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression, or road rage at least once in the previous year.

The American Psychological Associationlinks road rage to acute stress reactions, especially in people who struggle to manage emotions effectively. Their research shows that drivers under stress are more likely to misinterpret others’ actions as hostile, increasing the chances of retaliatory behaviour.

So, how can drivers better manage their emotions and stay safe on the road? Mr Hill gives four tips to control road rage:

1. Recognise the Triggers

Awareness is the first step in prevention. “Know what sets you off,” advises the JN Foundation lead on the Driving Academy. “If you’re physically or emotionally unwell, it might be safer to delay your trip or ask someone else to drive, such as a trusted friend, family member, or paid taxi service,” he said.

2. Choose Calm Over Conflict

When faced with provocation on the road, it’s crucial to stay composed. “When they go low, the good motorist should go high,” Mr Hill said. “Avoid making eye contact or responding to aggressive gestures. Instead, give aggressive drivers space, maintain a three- to four-second following distance, and if tailgated, safely pull over and let them pass,” he added.

3. Focus on Your Destination, Not the Distraction

Redirect your attention away from the behaviour of others, he suggested. Simple tactics like deep breathing, listening to calming music, or repeating a calming phrase can help defuse tension, he suggested. “Remind yourself: ‘My goal is to arrive safely’.”

4. Build Emotional Intelligence Through Education

Mr Hill informed that emotional awareness is being incorporated into driver education at the JN Foundation Driving Academy. “We promote a holistic approach that combines practical skills with emotional readiness,” he said.

Through a partnership with the Jamaica Automobile Association, the JN Foundation is launching iDrive4Life, a programme designed to provide comprehensive driver training through a combination of practical, on-the-road exercises, advanced driving technology, utilizing a state-of-the-art driving simulator and road safety empowerment. Additionally, the programme incorporates emotional awareness, recognizing the critical role mindset and emotional control play in safe and responsible driving.

“With a sharp rise in crashes caused by human error, managing road rage is no longer just a personal challenge; it’s a public safety issue. Ultimately, every driver has a role to play,” the JN Foundation representative noted. “Staying calm is a choice and it could save your life.”