Cedric Stephens | Mitigating hot spot danger

The Garfield Batts Hotspot Solutions Foundation, GBHSF, was launched at Mr Batts’ funeral service at the St Jude’s Anglican Church, Stony Hill on September 13. He died while driving home to Kingston through the Bog Walk Gorge when his vehicle left the roadway and plunged into the Rio Cobre. There were no witnesses.

Police authorities and an independent motor accident reconstruction expert concluded that the mishap would not have occurred, but for the condition of that section of the roadway. Other mishaps have occurred at that same spot.

A hot spot is a geological term linked to volcanoes. Figuratively, it implies danger. The Mona GeoInformatics Institute of the University of the West Indies, in collaboration with the Traffic Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the National Road Safety Council, launched an online fatal-crash map showing the distribution of fatal crashes. The locations were dubbed hot spots.

A system was created to spatially map every fatal and non-fatal road crash. The expectation was that the collection of these data would, according to a Gleaner report, pave the way for the identification of the most dangerous stretches in the country’s road network. The assumption was that this information would influence motorists to drive more cautiously when they approached these areas.

JN General Insurance Company funded the system. Ten years later, it is unclear what impact this programme had on driver behaviour and whether the sponsor and the other stakeholders attained their objectives.

The relatives and friends of Mr Batts founded GBHSF with a clear, and specific mission. The foundation will be established as a pressure group/advocacy organisation focused on identifying accident hotspots, lobbying the authorities to implement short and long-term measures to resolve the problems identified at hotspots, mobilising resources for practical interventions, and conducting public education about road safety and increasing hazard awareness.

The inclusion of ‘Solutions’ in the foundation’s name reflects its commitment to purposeful actions, rather than simply highlighting problems or identifying hazards.

GBHSF’s mission is consistent with the suggestion I made in an article last December following an accident along the Bustamante Highway. Four school children were injured, two of them fatally. Part of the article read: This accident must be carefully studied beyond the collection of data about the number of persons who were killed and injured if a recurrence is to be avoided. This is what happens in the case of aircraft accidents.

That piece followed the article titled ‘Safety Tips for Traversing Spur Tree Hill Safely’. It contained information about the major features of that roadway and discussed the operations and tactics that were appropriate to avoid and/or reduce the associated risks – information that is often missing from news reports.

Hazards at Pim Rock

The accident that led to the death of Mr Batts did not occur on or near to Flat Bridge hot spot. It took place near to an area called Pim Rock. A drone photograph shows there is a 71-foot, unrepaired gap in the embankment wall running between the road and the river bed. A 15-foot drop separates the road surface and the river bed. The GPS coordinates at that location is 18.071944-76.988889.

This spot is extremely dangerous, especially at nights when driving from Bog Walk to Spanish Town. The reconstructionist modelled a vehicle’s headlights shining from a northerly direction straight through the gap of the break-a-way with the river appearing as part of the road. Also, there are no signs indicating a left bend in the road.

There were no brake marks on the road suggesting that the driver attempted to stop his vehicle when he realised that he was on the wrong side of road heading towards the river. There was no metal railing with reflectors to guide drivers around this dangerous corner. Absent also were side lines, centre lines, reflectors, caution signs, or streetlights even though other accidents have occurred at this spot.

Day-time driving in this area is also hazardous. Speeds more of than 48.33 miles per hour can cause vehicles to lose traction and run off the road.

GBHSF’s initial focus – Phase I: Secure warnings signage for the dangerous spot where Mr Batts vehicle ran off the road; advocate for the erection of robust barrier; and push for the installation of lighting.

National application – Phase II: Develop a methodology to identify other hot spots around the island.

Mr Batts’ accident, like many others, was avoidable. The proposed actions of his relatives and friends to memorialise his passing with the goal of preventing similar occurrences in the future should be applauded and supported.

Cedric E. Stephens provides independent information and advice about the management of risks and insurance. For free information or counsel, write to: aegis@flowja.com or business@gleanerjm.com