Car crash changes Kyodi’s approach to road use
Dancehall artiste Kyodi says that a crash experience has changed his whole perspective and approach to road usage.
While driving a bus loaded with video vixens and other members of his team, the artiste recalled the moment his "heart dropped".
"I was going to St Elizabeth and while going down Spur Tree, the brakes fail me. And using quick instinct, mi just take it off the road right away and mi just turn inna some nearby bushes on the sidewalk. The front a di vehicle was badly damaged and the passengers received minor bruises but nothing too serious, just minor injuries," Kyodi shared. He added that his fingers also received minor cuts and bruises, but later received treatment at hospital along with the other passengers. He noted that the accident left an emotional and mental toll on him.
"Mi did kinda shock because a di fuss mi ever crash suh serious. Suh mi did kinda shock and worried at first when it happen because mi a roll wid passengers, suh a neva my life alone was at stake. But when mi see seh everybody good, mi get back cool and steady," said Kyodi.
"Throughout everything, mi just grateful cause mi a seh a just life and mi just know seh mi affi just be careful next time and just be grateful because a nuff people guh inna dem situation deh and nuh mek it out, suh mi neva too mek it stress mi because mi a seh mi mek it out," said the Off Guard artiste.
The accident occurred on New Year's Eve, 2024, which later saw the artiste creating a single from his experience titled Gratitude - an anthem of appreciation and thankfulness to a higher power for the safe protection over his life. He underscored that in addition to using his experience to creatively produce a positive single, the experience has helped him to be more careful on the road.
"Now mi know seh anything possible pon di road, suh if mi used to drive seh for example, 180 [kph] yuh know mi ago start drive 120. Suh mi just start be as cautious as possible on the road, plus mi start mek mi extra check fi mek sure seh any car mi a drive up to par, [and] I would definitely advise others to do so," Kyodi stated.
However, he said despite the stigma attached to entertainers regarding their "late night driving under the influence", he does not believe the onus is on any entertainer to set any example when it comes on to road safety.
"Mi nuh think suh cause people still ago duh weh dem waah duh. Because a di end of the day, yuh affi just have your own discipline -nobody nuh affi inspire yuh as a public figure fi drive cautious fi possibly save yuh own life. If it was like music now weh wi a sing things inna unu brain, den wi could be held responsible fi dat, but not fi no driving thing. People see and know weh careless driving can cause, suh a jus yuh affi be yuh own big man and be discipline," he opined.
He also encouraged his fans and colleagues to practise driving carefully on the road in order to reduce the number of fatalities.
"A man mek di vehicle dem suh anything possible, and if accidents can reach an entertainer, it can reach anybody. Suh just drive safely on the road and be as cautious as possible. And mi put dat inna mi music to wid mi song Gratitude, fi mek di people dem know seh danger out deh fi everybody, anybody can crash suh just be careful wid di life weh yuh have because a just one wi have fi live," the artiste urged.
He also advised motorists to be on the lookout as "yuh nuh know when smaddy else ago bad drive you".
"Check unu bikes and car dem before unu move out and mek sure seh everything intact, and don't forget to pray," he said. Kyodi also opined that not enough is being done to safeguard against accidents in Jamaica, calling for the government to implement "heftier fines and ensure they are enforced while installing more cameras at stoplights".