‘We are going to fix it’

. Security minister says road safety to be treated with same urgency as violent crime following Trelawny crash which claimed 7 lives Friday FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Declaring that the carnage on Jamaica’s roads must now be treated with the same urgency as violent crime, Minister of Security and Peace Dr Horace Chang has signalled to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that he wants it to intensify its already heightened road policing programme. This follows Friday’s horrific crash on the north coast leg of Highway 2000 in Trelawny that left seven people dead and another hospitalised with life threatening injuries. Insisting that road safety is now a major public safety priority, Chang pointed to the JCF’s success in reducing murders as evidence that determined policing can produce results. “The police have worked effectively and efficiently to reduce the homicides. Road fatality is another public safety issue, but we are going to fix it,” declared Chang. The tragedy, which unfolded near Bogue Gate shortly before 8:00 am Friday, has led to renewed national concern about reckless driving and prompted renewed calls for tougher enforcement of the road traffic laws. . Police and fire personnel on the scene of Friday’s crash in Trelawny which claimed seven lives. Horace Hines Speaking to reporters in Montego Bay on Saturday, Chang said the crash was especially painful because it occurred despite efforts by the police. “We have increased the use of technology, coordinated roadblocks across the island, and increased officers at critical points across the island, yet we have had this kind of death — which means just one reckless driver breached the rules, escaped the dragnet, and destroyed seven Jamaican lives,” lamented Chang. He said while government ministries will collaborate to identify stronger measures to tackle reckless driving, particularly along highways, the JCF must immediately ramp up its enforcement activities. “I can only ask the police to intensify the already intense programme across the road network across the island during this summer period when entertainment, social and family activities increase dramatically,” said Chang. “Again, let me express my deep condolences and sympathy to the affected families, but we look forward to intensifying our efforts to prevent any further tragedies on our highways,” he added. The leadership of the Trelawny police has already committed to significantly increasing its presence along the north coast leg of Highway 2000, in partnership with the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB). CHANG..I can only ask the police to intensify the already intense programme across the road network across the island during this summer period “We will significantly increase our presence along the highway. It is needed. More speeding operations and more public safety checks will be done,” the police said. According to the Trelawny police, Friday’s tragedy unfolded as a Toyota Hiace bus carrying five occupants was travelling towards St Ann, while a Hino motor truck carrying three occupants was heading towards Montego Bay. Investigators reported that on reaching the vicinity of Bogue Gate, the Toyota bus reportedly drifted onto the right side of the roadway and slammed head-on into the oncoming truck. Five people, including the driver of the Hino truck, died at the scene. The remaining occupants were taken by ambulance to Falmouth Public General Hospital where two later succumbed to their injuries. The driver of the Toyota bus remains hospitalised in serious condition. 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