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Article and image credit: Feyonia Myrie,<\/em> Jamaica Observer<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Jamaica’s road network was not spared Hurricane Melissa\u2019s onslaught when the Category Five system hit sections of the island last October. In fact, many roads were left damaged or destroyed, cutting off communities and exposing long-standing weaknesses in the country\u2019s transportation infrastructure.<\/p>\n As clean-up and recovery continue, road safety experts warn that rebuilding efforts must go beyond restoring what was lost and, instead, focus on climate resilience, safer road design, and protecting the most vulnerable road users.<\/p>\n Across several parishes, flood waters, landslides, and storm surge undermined road surfaces, washed away shoulders, and weakened bridges. Earlier estimates from the Inter-American Development Bank put the cost for physical damage at US$8.8 billion, with 62 per cent being attributed to damage to residential and non residential buildings, while 33 per cent was related to infrastructure, including roads. The figure has since risen, with the total damage and losses associated with Hurricane Melissa now standing at an estimated US$12.2 billion, according to Planning Institute of Jamaica Director General Dr Wayne Henry. This figure is equivalent to 56.7 per cent of Jamaica\u2019s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP).<\/p>\n In many rural and coastal areas, roads have become impassable to cars and trucks, leaving access to only motorcycles and pedestrians. This shift has placed motorcycles at the centre of disaster recovery, both as a lifeline for communities and as a growing road safety concern.<\/p>\n Dr Lucien Jones, Vice-Chairman of the National Road Safety Council and Chairman of the National Helmet Wearing Coalition \u2014 an initiative implemented by the JN Foundation in collaboration with the National Road Safety Council and with funding from the FIA Foundation \u2014 emphasised Jamaica\u2019s road reconstruction efforts must be guided by the Safe System Approach.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we rebuild and improve our road network Jamaica must apply the Safe System Approach, a framework that recognises human error is inevitable and designs roads to ensure that mistakes do not result in death or serious injury. This means safer road design, safer speeds, safer vehicles, safer road users, and strong post-crash response working together to protect lives,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n Morgan Fletcher, OperationsLead for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), warned that Jamaica\u2019s geography makes it particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, and that rebuilding must account for these realities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe saw in Jamaica that many low-lying coastal areas were damaged,\u201d he noted. \u201cPlanning where people can go, identifying alternatives, and ensuring those routes are safer is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n iRAP research and road safety assessments conducted in Jamaica have identified a number of shortcomings in the existing road network, including narrow lanes, limited or non-existent shoulders, poor drainage, and inadequate protection for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere you have pedestrians and cyclists on the network, that increases risk \u2014 particularly when damaged road surfaces and potholes force people closer together.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important that people respect each other on the roads and that speeds are lower where rehabilitation is taking place,\u201d Mr Fletcher said.<\/p>\n Motorcycles have become essential for reaching communities where roads remain partially blocked or unsuitable for larger vehicles. While they provide critical mobility for residents, emergency responders, and aid delivery, motorcycles also expose riders to significantly higher risks on damaged and debris-strewn roads.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got more dangerous road environments, not only the surface quality, but there\u2019s a lot of debris left on the sides of the road.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are more likely to come off their bikes because of road conditions, and there\u2019s also less police available to support enforcement,\u201d Mr Fletcher said.<\/p>\n With the duties of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force also extending to disaster response, Mr Fletcher stressed that public education and community responsibility become even more critical.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a combination of enforcement and making people aware of the risks. Using public education to build a sense of community responsibility so that everyone commits to staying safe together is essential right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Road traffic crashes represent a major public health issue in Jamaica, even outside of disaster contexts, and Mr Fletcher was direct about the stakes involved.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think you can talk about sustainability when road networks are killing almost 400 people per year,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially when road traffic injury is the leading cause of death for people aged five to 29 worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that the rebuilding effort presents a rare opportunity to correct long-standing deficiencies in the road network.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an opportunity where roadside vegetation has been damaged to create wider clear zones, reducing run-off-road fatalities,\u201d Mr Fletcher said.<\/p>\n As Jamaica moves from response to recovery, the Operations Lead for Latin America and the Caribbean at iRAP emphasised that coordination across all stakeholders, underpinned by data and modern assessment tools, will be essential to achieving lasting change.<\/p>\n \u201cUsing shared data, technology, and coordinated planning will help ensure roads are rebuilt with flooding, safety, and resilience in mind,\u201d he said. \u201cThe choices made now will shape Jamaica\u2019s road safety outcomes for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n The National Helmet Wearing Coalition said it is doing its part, along with local and regional road safety partners, to ensure that Jamaican roads are safer for all, especially the most vulnerable road users which include motorcycle drivers and pillion passengers.<\/p>\n With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, ensuring safer roads and safer riding will be essential to protecting lives during recovery and beyond.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n About iRAP in Jamaica<\/strong><\/p>\n iRAP is supporting partners to build safe, inclusive, low-carbon and climate resilient road networks that promote active travel and optimise sustainable development. Read more about the interaction of climate change and road safety here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Partner-led iRAP activity has assessed 1,066km of roads, and 2 schools in Jamaica, influencing the safety of US$1 million of road infrastructure investment. A 1,000km assessment has recently been completed, supported by the Caribbean Development Bank and iRAP is working with Jamaican partners, including the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), Ministry of Transport and Mining, and National Road Safety Council, supported by international partners such as FIA Foundation and 3M, to build capacity and eliminate high-risk roads in the country. 13 people have benefited from iRAP global\/on-line training, along with 67 people trained in Star Rating for Schools in events delivered locally.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0iRAP\u2019s Safety Insights Explorer<\/a>, achieving UN Target 4 for greater than 75% of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users in Jamaica by 2030 stands to save an estimated 168 lives, and 50,339 fatalities and injuries over the 20-year life of road treatments, with an economic benefit of USD$225.2 million \u2013 $3.40 for every $1 spent.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/irap.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jamaica-BcSR.jpg” title_text=”Jamaica BcSR” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Article and image credit: Feyonia Myrie, Jamaica Observer Jamaica’s road network was not spared Hurricane Melissa\u2019s onslaught when the Category Five system hit sections of the island last October. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":85697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Article credit: Feyonia Myrie,<\/em> Jamaica Observer<\/em><\/a><\/p> Jamaica's road network was not spared Hurricane Melissa\u2019s onslaught when the Category Five system hit sections of the island last October. In fact, many roads were left damaged or destroyed, cutting off communities and exposing long-standing weaknesses in the country\u2019s transportation infrastructure.<\/p> As clean-up and recovery continue, road safety experts warn that rebuilding efforts must go beyond restoring what was lost and, instead, focus on climate resilience, safer road design, and protecting the most vulnerable road users.<\/p> Across several parishes, flood waters, landslides, and storm surge undermined road surfaces, washed away shoulders, and weakened bridges. Earlier estimates from the Inter-American Development Bank put the cost for physical damage at US$8.8 billion, with 62 per cent being attributed to damage to residential and non residential buildings, while 33 per cent was related to infrastructure, including roads. The figure has since risen, with the total damage and losses associated with Hurricane Melissa now standing at an estimated US$12.2 billion, according to Planning Institute of Jamaica Director General Dr Wayne Henry. This figure is equivalent to 56.7 per cent of Jamaica\u2019s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP).<\/p> In many rural and coastal areas, roads have become impassable to cars and trucks, leaving access to only motorcycles and pedestrians. This shift has placed motorcycles at the centre of disaster recovery, both as a lifeline for communities and as a growing road safety concern.<\/p> Dr Lucien Jones, Vice-Chairman of the National Road Safety Council and Chairman of the National Helmet Wearing Coalition \u2014 an initiative implemented by the JN Foundation in collaboration with the National Road Safety Council and with funding from the FIA Foundation \u2014 emphasised Jamaica\u2019s road reconstruction efforts must be guided by the Safe System Approach.<\/p> \u201cAs we rebuild and improve our road network Jamaica must apply the Safe System Approach, a framework that recognises human error is inevitable and designs roads to ensure that mistakes do not result in death or serious injury. This means safer road design, safer speeds, safer vehicles, safer road users, and strong post-crash response working together to protect lives,\u201d he asserted.<\/p> Morgan Fletcher, OperationsLead for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), warned that Jamaica\u2019s geography makes it particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, and that rebuilding must account for these realities.<\/p> \u201cWe saw in Jamaica that many low-lying coastal areas were damaged,\u201d he noted. \u201cPlanning where people can go, identifying alternatives, and ensuring those routes are safer is very important.\u201d<\/p> iRAP research and road safety assessments conducted in Jamaica have identified a number of shortcomings in the existing road network, including narrow lanes, limited or non-existent shoulders, poor drainage, and inadequate protection for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.<\/p> \u201cWhere you have pedestrians and cyclists on the network, that increases risk \u2014 particularly when damaged road surfaces and potholes force people closer together.<\/p> \u201cIt\u2019s important that people respect each other on the roads and that speeds are lower where rehabilitation is taking place,\u201d Mr Fletcher said.<\/p> Motorcycles have become essential for reaching communities where roads remain partially blocked or unsuitable for larger vehicles. While they provide critical mobility for residents, emergency responders, and aid delivery, motorcycles also expose riders to significantly higher risks on damaged and debris-strewn roads.<\/p> \u201cWe\u2019ve got more dangerous road environments, not only the surface quality, but there\u2019s a lot of debris left on the sides of the road.<\/p> \u201cPeople are more likely to come off their bikes because of road conditions, and there\u2019s also less police available to support enforcement,\u201d Mr Fletcher said.<\/p> With the duties of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force also extending to disaster response, Mr Fletcher stressed that public education and community responsibility become even more critical.<\/p> \u201cIt\u2019s a combination of enforcement and making people aware of the risks. Using public education to build a sense of community responsibility so that everyone commits to staying safe together is essential right now,\u201d he said.<\/p> Road traffic crashes represent a major public health issue in Jamaica, even outside of disaster contexts, and Mr Fletcher was direct about the stakes involved.<\/p> \u201cI don\u2019t think you can talk about sustainability when road networks are killing almost 400 people per year,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially when road traffic injury is the leading cause of death for people aged five to 29 worldwide.\u201d<\/p> He added that the rebuilding effort presents a rare opportunity to correct long-standing deficiencies in the road network.<\/p> \u201cThere\u2019s an opportunity where roadside vegetation has been damaged to create wider clear zones, reducing run-off-road fatalities,\u201d Mr Fletcher said.<\/p> As Jamaica moves from response to recovery, the Operations Lead for Latin America and the Caribbean at iRAP emphasised that coordination across all stakeholders, underpinned by data and modern assessment tools, will be essential to achieving lasting change.<\/p> \u201cUsing shared data, technology, and coordinated planning will help ensure roads are rebuilt with flooding, safety, and resilience in mind,\u201d he said. \u201cThe choices made now will shape Jamaica\u2019s road safety outcomes for decades to come.\u201d<\/p> The National Helmet Wearing Coalition said it is doing its part, along with local and regional road safety partners, to ensure that Jamaican roads are safer for all, especially the most vulnerable road users which include motorcycle drivers and pillion passengers.<\/p> With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, ensuring safer roads and safer riding will be essential to protecting lives during recovery and beyond.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> About iRAP in Jamaica<\/strong><\/p> iRAP is supporting partners to build safe, inclusive, low-carbon and climate resilient road networks that promote active travel and optimise sustainable development. Read more about the interaction of climate change and road safety here<\/a>.<\/p> Partner-led iRAP activity has assessed 1,066km of roads, and 2 schools in Jamaica, influencing the safety of US$1 million of road infrastructure investment. A 1,000km assessment has recently been completed, supported by the Caribbean Development Bank and iRAP is working with Jamaican partners, including the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), Ministry of Transport and Mining, and National Road Safety Council, supported by international partners such as FIA Foundation and 3M, to build capacity and eliminate high-risk roads in the country. 13 people have benefited from iRAP global\/on-line training, along with 67 people trained in Star Rating for Schools in events delivered locally.<\/p>