I STRONGLY SUGGEST the calls by the president of the Barbados Road Safety Association, Sharmane Roland-Bowen, for the authorities to pay closer attention to speed limits around our schools. If we can agree that our children are the future, then it stands to reason that we must treat all matters relating to their health and safety with utmost priority.
I can recall in 2005 as members of the Parent-Teacher Association we marched in unison for the construction of the promised lay-by outside Cuthbert Moore Primary School.
We were convinced that the construction of the lay-by would enhance the safety of the area, given that one of our students had been struck by a vehicle while making their way across the pedestrian crossing.
We further contended that given the demographics of the area, all vehicles should be required to observe a 25km speed limit 150 meters from the crossing. As Roland Bowen has asserted, the rectangular information signs to reduce speed now are insufficient because of their subjectivity to driver discretion and therefore speed zones are likely to be more effective at controlling the velocity of the oncoming traffic.
Some who may contend that having speed zones in the vicinity of all our schools is likely to disrupt the normal traffic flow given our road infrastructure, but as far as I am concerned, the few seconds lost because we are required to slow down near a school are negligible in comparison to what a parent and our country has to bear over the loss of a child.
Honourable ministers and MPs, I believe that we have a duty of care to our children, to ourselves and to our country and I join again with those who call for the immediate implementation of speed zones around all our schools.
– Sean St Clair Fields
