ALMOST DAILY there is an issue relating to road safety in Barbados, with serious injuries and fatalities high on the list. Already, less than 50 days into this year, the number of road fatalities stands at four. Yes, this is a small number, but it is still far too many.
We need to have a plan to accomplish a drastic reduction in accidents, not just fatalities. It has become a frequent thing already this year to hear of accidents giving rise to mass casualty situations, especially those involving state-operated and private buses. While we can take pride in the speed and efficiency of the various response teams, the regularity of these incidents is quite troubling.
Measures must be implemented to help reduce or eliminate the carnage on the island’s roads. This means introducing systems such as red light cameras to curb instances of exceeding the speed limit or failing to stop at red lights. These are major problems, given the way they are flouted.
With increasing frequency, too, daredevil motorcyclists use the roads to display theirs stunts, actions which indicate that these riders place little value on their lives or those of other road users. Many motorists also show little regard for bicyclists or pedestrians, particularly late at night and in the early morning hours, as evidenced by the fatal and serious accidents recorded.
One of the most serious problems on our roads remains the indiscipline of drivers of public transport vehicles, who seem to break every rule. It is hard to believe, given their daily flouting of the regulations, that they fear either the law or its enforcers.
The abuse on this country’s roads has been exacerbated by the widespread use of mobile phones. They have proven to be major distractions for both drivers and pedestrians. Use of these devices while driving or walking seems universal.
This country’s roads must be designed with everyone’s safety as the main concern. Simple things can improve the situation: ensuring that traffic lights are in working order, that pedestrian crossings are clearly marked and that on roadways such as the Spring Garden Highway, some provision is made for pedestrians to safely cross.
In the effort to put the brakes on bad driving and indiscriminate road behaviour, a sustained public education campaign should be undertaken. This country must never reach the stage where human life is so devalued that it is considered a mere statistic. The pain and suffering caused to so many people as a result of traffic accidents is immeasurable.
Yes, we are only human and accidents will happen. However, many can be avoided and we need to recognise that no price can be placed on someone’s life.
