Abstract
The paper explores the effects and contribution of contemporary urbanisation dynamics to Child Road Safety in Jamaica, by analysing metrics for Child Road Traffic Injury and Fatalities over particular periods and in particular places Methodologically, the research used multiple data and information, including analysis of motor vehicle crash sites, the 2011-2020 Global Plan for Decade of Action for Road Safety, social media forum on road safety, the National School Directory (2016), various UNICEF reports on Road Safety, Crash Hot Spot Maps from the Mona Geoinformatics Institute as well as government’s Weekly Crash Reports. Places with the lowest rates of child crash and fatality for 2011 to 2019, have the lowest and slowest rates of urbanisation. Boys are generally more vulnerable to motor vehicle crashes than girls. Children are more at risk to motor vehicle crashes and fatalities on weekends than on school days. In 2017 children accounted for 6% of total road traffic crash fatalities. Over 4% of these occurred in non-traditional urban areas. Urbanisation growth patterns have been increasing in areas outside of the traditional and formal urban centres. Schools and children in rapidly urbanizing non-traditional areas, and places along improved road corridors are increasingly vulnerability to RTC. These urban areas lack proper infrastructure for expanding and mobile population, motor vehicle fleet and increasing traffic dynamics. Increasing use of motor-cycles and motor-bikes by a bourgeoning urban poor population, is more affordable, and offers a more attractive transportation alternative, to counteract the increasing traffic congestion and an ineffective urban public transport system. Using the motorbike to transport children, makes them an increasing vulnerable group of road users. Contemporary urbanisation dynamics are outpacing the provision and upgrade of socio-physical child road safety infrastructure. Child road safety interventions are important elements needed to make Jamaica’s urbanisation prospects for children, sustainable, safe and inclusive.
