KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Orthopaedic Surgeon at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Dr Cary Fletcher, supports the provision in the new Road Traffic Act for formal training of motorcyclists in Jamaica.
Dr Fletcher was speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, against the background of a study conducted by the hospital’s orthopaedic team entitled, Motorcycle Injuries Seen at the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital.
He explained that the study, which was conducted during the period March 2016 to June 2018, looked at all of the patients seen in the hospital’s emergency department who had suffered an injury as a result of a motorcycle accident.
According to Dr Fletcher, the hospital saw patients from St Ann, St Mary, Portland, Trelawny, Clarendon and St James. They were given a questionnaire that looked at various socio-demographic data, including age, occupation and gender.
They also assessed those under the influence of alcohol and those who had smoked cigarettes and/or marijuana.
“We also looked at the incidence of helmet compliance, and in terms of road worthiness we looked at the incidence of them possessing a motor bike licence and insurance and whether they were formally trained,” Dr Fletcher said.
The team is recommending formal training for all motorbike riders in Jamaica, because the study points to this as a major problem.
Leave A Comment