PAHO/WHO, National Road Safety Council donate breathalysers

In a major boost to Jamaica’s efforts to reduce road traffic injuries and fatalities, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), in partnership with the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), recently handed over 52 alcohol breathalysers to the Government of Jamaica.

The donation, made under the United Nations Road Safety Fund initiative, ‘Safe System Approach for Safer Roads in Jamaica,’ included 50 Intoxilyzer 300 and two Intoxilyzer 9000 breathalysers, valued at approximately US$55,000.

This equipment was officially handed over to Prime Minister Andrew Holness on April 17. The new equipment is expected to substantively strengthen the country’s road safety programme by increasing alcohol checkpoints across the island and enabling more efficient roadside testing.

Approximately 30 officers from the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) were trained in the use of the new devices. Since the end of April 2025, breathalyser tests have been administered at approximately 20 checkpoints nationwide, with over 500 tests conducted to date.

Motorists driving under the influence of alcohol remain a pressing concern, with international research linking the practice to a high incidence of road traffic crashes. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair a driver’s vision, reflexes, and judgement. These factors are often compounded by other risky behaviours, such as speeding or failure to wear seat belts.

The breathalysers are expected to significantly aid roadside law enforcement and prosecution, enhancing Jamaica’s ability to address this serious public safety issue.

In 2022, at the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Global Road Safety, member states committed to reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the regional office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialised health agency of the Inter-American system.

To date, adult pedestrian fatalities remain a major concern among that category of road users in Jamaica. As of 2025, the daily fatality rate stands at 1.04 , with a 30-day average of 1.06 deaths per day. There have been seven days where at least five people died in traffic incidents.

The recent spike in road crashes has highlighted the urgent need for targeted interventions. Strengthening enforcement, improving public education and fast-tracking legislative and technological reforms are critical to reversing this trend and saving lives. During the period April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, there was a noticeable decline in fatalities.

However, there has been a sharp uptick in fatal traffic crashes over the past four weeks, which has pushed the number of people killed on the nation’s roads to 138 as of Friday, May 9.

The deaths resulted from 124 fatal crashes, the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) revealed in its latest daily crash report. The ITA said fatalities have decreased by nine percentage points when compared to the prior year, while fatal crashes are down five per cent compared to last year.

Motorcyclists continue to top the list in terms of category of roads users killed, amounting to 40, or 29 per cent, as of May 9. Pedestrians are next with 32 fatalities, or 23 per cent, followed by drivers of private motor vehicles with 29 fatalities, or 21 per cent.

Seventeen private motor vehicle passengers were killed as of the same period, making up 12 per cent of the overall death count.

Combined, vulnerable road users (pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and pillion passengers) account for 61 per cent of all road deaths this year.

Males account for 85 per cent, while females make up 15 per cent of all fatalities since the start of the year.

PAHO/WHO has commended the Government of Jamaica for its progress, highlighting a decline in road traffic deaths over the past two years, and has pledged continued support for the country’s efforts to meet the 2030 targets.