Bike accident this morning - unfortunately (1) perished

[Big_frank]

HarryS: It's a familiar observation. I don't know of anyone who hasn't had a scarey ride at one time or another in Jamaica.
15 years ago during my first trip as a program director for our radio station's morning show's week-long broadcasts from Mariner's Inn on the cliffs with several contest winner couples; our morning man and his 'operator' caught a ride at night to the airport with a red plate driver in a tiny old Toyota hatchback.
They were frightened out of their wits.
Luckily; I was staying down the road at Samsara and had a daytime ride with a JUTA driver in a big coaster bus during daylight hours and felt very safe. (we were traveling on different flights).
But they were terrorized in that little car with a driver who passed everything in sight; weaving in and out during a pitch black ride on the old road at break-neck speeds, and talk about it to this day.
Neither have returned to Jamaica since. I've had a couple of hairy route cab rides over the years as well. and while the other passengers may take it in stride; it can be very frightening.
I'm certainly not asking you to "name" the driver involved in your transport; but maybe we can get people to speak up about drivers who do put safety above profit at all times!

[Angel]

HarryS I wouldn't want that driver. Wouldn't of used him for the remainder of the trip and told him why. And being a sponsor here is no guarantee for a safe driver apparently.

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

I don't get it. Why can't you say the name of the driver? If this board is supposed to be informational, shouldn't it be for the good AND the bad information? I have read peoples no-positive thoughts about resorts and restaurants, why not drivers?

I certainly wouldn't want to hire anyone like that!

[Rob]

Angel and Big Shiny and all,

Harry has chosen on his own, as is his right, not to name the driver. As Harry mentioned, the driver is highly recommended by many here on Negril.com.

But rest assured, as soon as I read his comments, HarryS and I have been in contact and we are addressing the issue to try and prevent this from happening again. Negril.com does not want any unsafe drivers to be listed in our Transportation section. That is in no one's best interest.

Angel, with humans being humans, there can never be perfect 100% guarantees whenever humans are involved. Humans are fallible creatures and no one is perfect.

But problems can be addressed and minimized, which is what Harry and I are striving to attain.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

And a personal message to Big Shiny, I have had the pleasure of calling Gary Gygax many times over several decades - from the early 70's when he had just created that new type of game called "Dungeons and Dragons" and we were trying to figure out what to do when his game manuals didnt supply the answers. He came out with several supplemental manuals based on the problems we ran into while playing D&D, so apparently his "rule books" did help in this case... (grin)

I spoke with him last in 2005, just a few years before he passed on. Cheers Gary, and thanks for all the fun over the years!

[captaind]

When I started helping Linston establish his "redplate" business the first thing I demanded was safe driving.

Also customer service requires a conscious effort to understand the mind set of the client and their comfort.

As a sponsor here and being well known to most regulars personally it is imperative to represent ourselves and Negril.com in the most positive light.

We are blessed in that we have other business in JA outside the tourist industry so Linston doesn't have to overbook or drive like a mad man to get as many trips as possible.

Most (but apparently not all) drivers here on Negril.com are safe and dependable.

Never confuse the "route cab" driver with a charter. Both are red plate but far different in their operations. There's a thread somewhere here about the difference

Regards

Cap

[Rambo]

" They just don't have enough police to enforce the laws consistently. "...........or its not a high priority ??

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

Hey Rob,
Thanks for the info on that. I totally understand. I'm a bit green on here and still learning the "ins and outs" so I hope my question didn't offend anyone.

Now.....I don't want to blabber off topic on here BUT.... I knew you must be pretty cool to do what you do on here but, now I come to find out you are cool.......and a geek? Awesome!

I hope you guys are around next week because now we will make a point to get to one of your usual boardie haunts. I would LOVE to hear some stories of your early years of "play-testing".

[Papa Georgie]

Help is on the way !

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/regio...-west_15408117

[Irie John]

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/regio...#ixzz2kDAL65Uv

"Hare is, however, confident the death toll will be below 300". -

300???

Really????

What a goal!!

Way to raise the bar!

This guy is a clown & so is anyone else that thinks 300 is an acceptable "goal".

[Rob]

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/regio...#ixzz2kDAL65Uv

"Hare is, however, confident the death toll will be below 300". -

300???

Really????

What a goal!!

Way to raise the bar!

This guy is a clown & so is anyone else that thinks 300 is an acceptable "goal".

Irie John,

Last year, with the road fatalities at 260 made Jamaica a safer place to drive than the USA. Here is a quote from the PulitzerCenter.org:

"In 1991 the rate of road deaths was 18.5 per 100,000, but in 2012 the fatality ratio fell to just 9.5, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica. That is below the U.S. rate, and approaching Cuban and Canadian levels. In absolute terms, last year’s 260 fatalities were the lowest on record."

http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/...cautions-death

Of course everyone in the world would want a perfect safety record of zero road fatalities, but this the real world we all live in.

So the goal of keeping the road fatalities under 300 is admirable goal, not something to be made into a joke. Having a safety record better than the USA is something Jamaica should always strive to attain. Kenute Hare is certainly not the clown...