Dean Jones | 146 Deaths Aren’t an Accident

Road fatalities may be falling, but Jamaica’s culture of reckless driving is still claiming far too many innocent lives. It’s time to stop accepting the unacceptable.

There is encouraging news in Jamaica’s latest road safety figures. At the halfway point of 2026, road fatalities are down by 22 per cent compared with the same period last year. There have been 146 lives lost in 131 fatal crashes — 41 fewer deaths than at this stage in 2025.

Progress deserves recognition. Every life saved represents a family that has been spared unimaginable grief.

But 146 people have still died.

“A 22 per cent reduction in road deaths is progress worth recognising, but no nation should mistake fewer funerals for success. One hundred and forty-six people have still lost their lives this year, and many of those deaths were entirely preventable.” — Dean Jones, Founder, Jamaica Homes

For a country of fewer than three million people, that remains a sobering number. Statistics can suggest improvement, yet behind every figure is a parent, child, spouse, friend or neighbour whose chair at the dinner table will forever remain empty.

The Island Traffic Authority is right to urge against complacency. Motorcyclists and pedestrians continue to account for half of all road deaths, while vulnerable road users make up the majority of fatalities. These are not simply numbers on a spreadsheet; they reveal a road culture that still exposes ordinary Jamaicans to unnecessary risk.

As someone who spends countless hours driving across the island meeting homeowners, developers, investors and communities, one reality stands out above almost everything else: dangerous overtaking has become almost routine.

It is astonishing how often vehicles attempt to pass on blind bends or crests where there is little or no visibility. Many Jamaicans will recognise the scene immediately. One driver begins overtaking, only for a second vehicle to overtake them both, forcing oncoming traffic onto the shoulder or into the verge. Somehow, everyone survives — until the day they do not.

Too often, the driver taking the greatest risk walks away, while an innocent family pays the ultimate price.

Another recurring danger occurs when motorists are making perfectly lawful turns into side roads or driveways. An impatient driver, attempting an ill-judged overtake, suddenly appears on the opposite side of the road with nowhere to go. The impact is frequently catastrophic.

These are not isolated incidents. They have become part of everyday driving across Jamaica.

Enforcement by the Jamaica Constabulary Force is visible, and officers carry out regular traffic operations. Their work is important and should be acknowledged. Yet policing alone cannot be everywhere, every minute of every day.

“The police cannot be on every road at every moment. Smarter enforcement through technology, better road engineering and tougher consequences for dangerous driving must become the next chapter in Jamaica’s road safety strategy.” — Dean Jones, Founder, Jamaica Homes

Technology has to become part of the solution.

Countries such as the United Kingdom have demonstrated that speed cameras, average-speed enforcement and automated detection systems can significantly influence driver behaviour. The certainty of being caught changes habits more effectively than the possibility of encountering a patrol car.

That does not mean Jamaica should simply copy Britain’s approach.

There is a balance to strike.

In parts of the UK, local authorities have been criticised for placing enforcement cameras in locations that appear designed to maximise revenue rather than improve safety. There have been repeated public debates over whether some schemes prioritise fines over genuine accident prevention. Jamaica should learn from both the successes and the mistakes.

The objective should never be to create a culture of punishment.

It should be to create a culture where dangerous driving becomes socially unacceptable because the likelihood of detection is real, consistent and fair.

Infrastructure also deserves equal attention. Some sections of Jamaica’s road network continue to experience repeated collisions because of poor visibility, inadequate signage, insufficient lighting or hazardous road surfaces. In some locations, oil spills from previous collisions remain on the carriageway long enough to contribute to further accidents. If the same stretch of road repeatedly claims lives, it should trigger an engineering review, not simply another police report.

Road safety is not solely a transport issue.

It is an economic issue.

It is a tourism issue.

It is an investment issue.

“Reckless driving has become so normal on Jamaica’s roads that many motorists barely react to it anymore. Overtaking on blind bends, racing through junctions and gambling with other people’s lives should never become part of our driving culture.” — Dean Jones, Founder, Jamaica Homes

Jamaica spends every day promoting Jamaica to returning residents, overseas investors and members of the diaspora considering whether now is the right time to buy, build or relocate. Quality of life forms a significant part of that decision. Safe roads, reliable infrastructure and confidence in public safety all influence how people judge a country’s attractiveness.

We often say, “Wi likkle but wi tallawah.” It is one of Jamaica’s defining expressions — a reminder that although we are a small nation, we are capable of extraordinary things.

The same spirit should define our approach to road safety.

We have already shown that fatalities can be reduced. A 22 per cent decline proves improvement is possible.

Now the challenge is ensuring that this becomes the beginning of a long-term transformation rather than a temporary statistic. Smarter enforcement, better engineering, stronger driver education and a culture that refuses to tolerate reckless behaviour can save hundreds more lives in the years ahead.

Because while the numbers are moving in the right direction, the true measure of success will be the day when 146 deaths is no longer considered progress.

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