Costly crashes - Road collisions result in heavy physical, financial damage

Dr Cary Fletcher, an orthopaedic surgeon with 13 years of experience at the hospital and a member of the National Helmet Wearing Coalition (NHWC), has seen this pattern play out repeatedly.

"Every week we get at least one motorcycle crash," he said. "When I did the math from my research, it worked out to about two admissions per week." His case study, conducted between 2016 and 2018, revealed that two-thirds of crash victims were under 40 years old, with an average age of 28. These incidents represent a growing crisis with far-reaching economic and social consequences. Many motorcyclists are not recreational riders but people who depend on their bikes to earn a living.

"The average motorcycle cost about $120,000, while their average weekly salary was $30,000," Fletcher noted. "These are not people who can afford to lose an income or pay for long hospital stays."

The financial strain extends beyond individual families to the public health system. A 2017 cost-of-care study estimated that each motorcycle crash costs an average of $263,000. However, Fletcher opined that this figure is greatly underestimated, especially when factoring in expensive treatments, such as metal rods for fractures, which alone can cost $140,000. Each crash ripples outward, as families lose breadwinners, communities lose productivity, and the national economy bears the cumulative weight of preventable injuries.

The types of injuries seen at the Hospital are both severe and life-altering. Lower limb injuries, primarily between the knee and ankle, accounted for 55 per cent of cases, while upper limb injuries made up 35 per cent.

"We see people losing toes and portions of their feet because they were wearing shorts and slippers. These are young people in their economic prime," Fletcher said. Head injuries represented 31 per cent of cases, while spinal and pelvic injuries each accounted for five per cent. Despite these consequences, many motorcycle drivers continue to take unnecessary risks. Some choose not to wear helmets for short trips, citing discomfort, cost, or social concerns, particularly among women, for whom hairstyles may discourage helmet use.

"More than half of those who weren't wearing a helmet said it was because they were just riding a short distance. But it only takes one second to be seriously injured or killed," Fletcher warned.

Cultural attitudes also play a major role. In June 2024, the NHWC conducted a focus group in Westmoreland, one of the parishes with the highest number of motorcycle-related fatalities. The findings were troubling: safety often took a back seat to style and image. Some participants cited the saying, "If yuh fi drown, yuh cyah hang," expressing the belief that fate determines death regardless of precaution. These mindsets illustrate the deep-rooted challenge of promoting a culture of safety.

Yet amid these grim realities, Fletcher remains focused on solutions.

"Easily eight out of 10 injuries were unquestionably preventable, and another seven to eight percent were more than likely preventable," he emphasised. "We need a national programme that not only improves skills but also changes the mindset of riders."

The NHWC is taking action in this regard. Implemented by the JN Foundation in collaboration with the National Road Safety Council and funded by the FIA Foundation, the NHWC is spearheading targeted initiatives to promote helmet use and road safety education across Jamaica. Through school outreach programmes, community workshops, national advocacy, and public awareness campaigns, the coalition is equipping both current and future riders and pillion passengers with knowledge about certified helmets and their life-saving benefits.

Evidence from abroad reinforces the power of these efforts. In Thailand, a sustained nationwide campaign combining education, media messaging, and enforcement drastically reduced motorcycle deaths. Lessons from such initiatives offer a roadmap for Jamaica, proof that changing attitudes and behaviours can save lives.

On enforcement, Fletcher stressed that static policing alone is insufficient. Motorcyclists can often ride past checkpoints without being stopped. Instead, he advocates for the introduction of electronic enforcement, including cameras to detect licence plates, paired with stronger licensing systems.