Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has commended the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), its partner agencies and members of the public for the proactive role they played in ensuring a significant reduction in road fatalities and injuries during 2012.

She made the statements in a message delivered by Dr Omar Davies, transport minister, during the NRSC's Thanksgiving Service at the Webster Memorial United Church in St Andrew recently.

The prime minister, who is also chairman of the NRSC, credits the agency's public-education programme and the vigilance of the Police Taffic Division, for encouraging the country's improved road safety awareness and practices. These resulted in fewer than 300 road fatalities last year, in keeping with the NRSC's SAVE 300 LIVES Project. Jamaica ended the year with 258 road fatalities.

Simpson Miller revealed that the country enjoyed a 16 per cent decrease in road deaths over the previous year and a 25 per cent decline during the four years of the SAVE 300 LIVES campaign. Among the NRSC partner organisations lauded by the PM, were the ministries of health, national security, justice, education, local government, transport and works, Jamaica Gasolene Retailers' Association, Jamaica Automobile Association and the Insurance Association of Jamaica.

She, however, cautioned Jamaicans to remain vigilant in proper road usage. "While we give thanks for this reduction, I call on everyone not to become complacent by this achievement, but to continue the advocacy and build on this achievement as even one unnecessary road fatality is one too many," asserted the NRSC chairman. "The fact is there are still too many persons being killed and injured as a result of road crashes."

Calling on Jamaicans to return to "common courtesy and care", Simpson Miller expressed concern over some acts of indiscipline which still persist on the nation's roads.

The NRSC was established by parliamentary statute to be the lead agency for promoting road safety in Jamaica and in implementing activities to reduce death and injury on our roads.