BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT is no surprise that with the Christmas/Carnival season comes a considerable increase in the amount of foot and vehicular traffic passing through the island’s capital which increases the risk of traffic accidents. However, in an effort to address the risk, the Traffic Department has issued a number of tips that motorists and pedestrians could employ.
Speaking exclusively with SKNVibes, Head of the Traffic Department Inspector Cromwell Henry explained that the tips, though simple, play a significant role in reducing the likelihood of the occurrence of traffic accidents, once adhered to.
(1) Avoid driving into heart of the city unless absolutely necessary, simply because Basseterre is congested as is it and to have people driving through that area just for the sake of it creates even further congestion and increases the risk of accident;
(2) Use alternative routes - streets that are less congested – even if the distance between your starting point and your destination is longer. In essence, the time you take to get to your destination would be short because you use a route that is less congested;
(3) Also to ease congestion and reduce the likelihood of a traffic accident, use public transportation or carpool;
(4) Avoid drinking and driving. This is the time of the year when alcohol consumption is generally increased and so is the number of accidents. Alcohol impairs a person’s ability to judge distance and speed and therefore increases their risk of an accident;
(5) Drive according to the road conditions but always within the speed limit;
(6) Always wear seat belts and have your front seat passengers do the same;
(7) Avoid being distracted by cell phone and other gadgets that you may have installed in your vehicle such as DVD player, stereo sets and iPods;
(8) Always look out for pedestrians. There is increased pedestrians traffic particularly in the limits of the city. Look out for them and give them the right of way when crossing the road; and
(9) Never overtake at pedestrian crossings and avoid overtaking passenger busses that have stopped to put off passengers or, if you must, do so cautiously.
Inspector Henry also highlighted tips which pedestrians could employ to reduce the risk of traffic accidents.
(1) Pedestrians always look to cross on the pedestrian crossing when possible, and always look in all directions from which traffic flows before crossing the road;
(2) Ensure that approaching traffic recognise you and stop to allow you to cross before you do so;
(3) You should not idle on pedestrian crossings or should you run across them. Rather, you should walk briskly across; and
(4) Always walk on the sidewalks when possible, and when walking with children ensure that they are not exposed to the flow of traffic. For example, if you are walking on the right side of the road, ensure that the child is walking to your right. If you are on the left side of the road, ensure that the child, whom you are with, is walking to your left.
