Duane Ellis, General Manager Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA)
The Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA) has formed a strategic partnership with the local motor sports regulatory group, the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC), to promote awareness of road safety and mobility concerns.
This alliance will result in the JAA being present at all JMMC sprint, local rally and dexterity events listed on the 2012 Motor Racing Calendar, to promote the road safety message articulated by the United Nation’s Decade of Action for Road Safety Campaign, which aims to “cut global road fatalities in half, by 2020.”
Duane Ellis, General Manager of the JAA, says that the JAA and the JMMC are both affiliate members of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), hence this “symbiotic relationship was a natural blending of our core areas of interest, in respect of roadside assistance and motor racing.”
He said that statistics from the Road Safety Unit, in the Ministry of Transport and Works, reveals that in 2011, some 303 persons lost their lives in 257 road crashes, which were caused mainly by speeding.
“We believe that if we share our resources to educate more persons about the risks of unsafe driving practices, such as speeding and distracted driving, we will be able to achieve a major reduction in road crashes for 2012,” Mr Ellis explained.
Dean Corrodus, President of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC)
Dean Corrodus, President of the JMMC, said this partnership, stems from the need for “Synergy between both organizations, to heighten the awareness of Jamaicans about road safety and the dangers of speeding on the nation’s roadways.”
“This partnership is an opportunity for us to reach thousands of Jamaicans, across the island, with road safety messages,” Mr. Corrodus pointed out. “And, it is our joint civic responsibility to lead public awareness in this area.”
The JMMC has increased its 2012 calendar events to be staged across the island; and this will extend their reach, as they move to improve road safety awareness.
Meanwhile, Mr Ellis said that both organisations will also be partners in a school-based road safety initiative that will seek to, “educate young people about road safety and mobility messages.”
