Road Safety Begins with You; Walk, Ride and Drive with Care; Know Road Safety, No Injury
The Road Safety Unit (RSU) under the Island Traffic Authority is keeping road users ‘in the know’ with tips and advice on how to stay safe in the traffic environment.
As we approach the season of Advent, the Unit would like to remind our readers to put road safety at the top of your shopping list. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it seems everyone is in a hurry trying to wrap up their shopping and enjoy festive celebrations. But as you’re dashing around town, it’s important to keep road safety in mind, since the streets are busier and drivers are distracted by their holiday to-do-lists. Here are a few friendly tips to keep safe on the roads during this time.
- Don’t Drink and Drive. If You’re Driving, Do not Drink!
If you plan to have a drink during this Yuletide season, please leave your car at home. Remember, if you have been out drinking, you may still be affected by alcohol the next day; sleeping, eating, having a shower, drinking a cup of coffee or other ways of ‘sobering up’ will not help – it takes time, so do not drive! Driving after drinking can have devastating consequences and can easily result in loss of lives.
- Slow Down
In the rush to finalize your holiday prep work and getting home from functions in time, you may be tempted to speed. Speeding kills and the faster you go; the more damage is caused. Drive within the speed limit and ensure you arrive at your destination alive.
- Wear your seatbelt
Statistics show that seat belts save lives. When used correctly, wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45%, and r
isk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%.
- Don’t talk, text and drive
Calling your aunt or spouse while driving between stores to find out which colour tie to give your uncle this year is a dangerous distraction. Distractions kill. You can leave the message until later. There are three main types of distraction:
- Visual: taking your eyes off the road
- Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
- Cognitive: taking your mind off driving
- Watch out for emergency vehicles
In an emergency, every second counts. When you hear a siren, be sure to pull off to the side of the road to allow the ambulance, police car, or fire truck to pass.
- Keep an emergency kit in your trunk and car
Keep blankets, a shovel, a flashlight, and cone, in addition to extra water, in case you run out while you’re driving.
Remember, road safety begins with you.
____________________________________
Contact rsu@mtw.gov.jm. Check our youtube channel and facebook page for very useful information – www.facebook.com/roadsafetyunit/