BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — PRIME Minister Dr. Terrance Drew says the government’s new photo radar system is already yielding positive results, noting that drivers have been noticeably slowing down on the nation’s roadways.
The system was introduced earlier this year as part of a broader effort to deter speeding and reduce the number of fatal crashes. It is currently in its pilot phase and has faced heavy criticism over its implementation by both the government and the police.
Speaking on a recent edition of The Round Table, Dr. Drew said the system will transition into a “long-term arrangement” once the pilot phase ends. He stressed that, despite the criticism, the aim of the initiative is simple: save lives.
“We really wanted the traffic to slow down,” he told reporters. “Since we have put it in place, I don't think we had any fatalities.”
The Prime Minister also took aim at Times Caribbean, which has been vocally critical of the government’s approach to the photo radar rollout. He defended the system’s impact so far, pointing to early improvements.
“We have seen a significant reduction in the average speed,” Dr. Drew said. “And with that, we have seen a reduction in [the] number of accidents and in [the] number of deaths in the short period of time compared to other periods.”
While he did not provide supporting statistics, Dr. Drew said the government prefers to wait at least three months before releasing a full comparative analysis. “But what we have seen thus far is that the number of accidents have reduced,” he added.
Police data for 2024 show 1,700 reported accidents across the Federation — 1,345 in St. Kitts and 436 in Nevis — including eight fatal crashes resulting in 13 deaths.
