Prime Minister Andrew Holness has signalled the Government’s intention to distribute 10,000 helmets to motorcycle riders starting in June.

The prime minister made the announcement while addressing a recent meeting of the National Road Safety Council.

Holness announced the programme while making his contribution to the 2023/24 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, in March.

He said the procurement process has started and the logistics regarding the safety training course that will accompany the distribution exercise as well as administrative matters are being finalised.

“We are actually procuring; we have some helmets in hand already, so we will start this process of distribution… . There are administrative issues – how will people get it, how will we prioritise. It will be paired to a training programme, all kinds of administrative issues, but the objective is to have them easily accessible and generally available,” Holness said.

He lamented that many motorcyclists do not take the necessary precaution or wear safety gear when they are operating their motorcycles.

The prime minister said pedal cyclists, motorcyclists, pillion riders and pedestrians are categorised as vulnerable road users and make up 64 per cent of road deaths.

Incentivised training for taxi operators

Additionally, Holness advised that the incentivised training programme for taxi drivers is being developed.

 “There are training programmes already in existence, but we are now going to incorporate some other elements to it, and we are going to incentivise, so if you participate in the training, there will be a cash grant available. We are definitely hoping that this will improve the service levels of our taxi drivers, but over and above that, how they use the road,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the special committee that has been convened to review the newly implemented Road Traffic Act is being chaired by minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Floyd Green.