BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN addition to its ongoing education programme, the Traffic Department is hoping to make 2010 safer for road users through the implementation of new initiatives.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Head of the Traffic Department Inspector Cromwell Henry noted that in 2009, as in previous years, the Department’s focus was on educating road users on the virtues of road safety with a view to reducing traffic accidents.
This strategy, he explained, has already reaped benefits with more than 50 percent reduction in traffic-related deaths recorded by the Federation in 2009 which decreased to four from 2008’s 10.
“The focus (for this year) would be on reducing the number of accidents, particularly accidents which result in injury. We’ve managed to keep the road fatalities very low, with a more than 50 percent reduction in 2009. It’s always good not to have fatalities and that would be our objective; to eliminate fatalities, at least not to exceed last year’s numbers. So we would try and maintain the low-level if we can’t reduce it, and to further reduce injury-related accidents.”
The Inspector noted that the education aspect to the Department’s strategy is fundamental if road safety were to be promoted, achieved and maintained. Additionally, however, the Department, as its Head explained, would be pushing for the acquisition of specific pieces of equipment to assist in this regard.
“We would have zero tolerance for reckless behaviour and reckless and careless driving through our enforcement efforts. Motorists exceeding the speed limit have become normal because of our fairly good roads and we intend to reduce these incidences by maintaining a regular presence on the road. We are seeking to acquire new radar equipment which would enable us to achieve this objective.”
The introduction of a new “programme of certification” for driving instructors is another measure the Inspector said his Department is seeking to implement.
“We are also going to focus on new drivers and we are going to pay close attention to our driving instructors. This year we intend to introduce a new programme of certifying driving instructors, requiring them to meet certain minimum standards before they are permitted to teach persons to drive…and we would test more vigorously those who are seeking driver’s licenses to ensure that we are completely satisfied with the quality of new drivers that we are putting on the road. So we would place strong emphasis on our road test; theory and the practical, as well as the quality of the instructors that are teaching these new drivers.”
Henry believes that the increase in fines for ticketable offences would prove to be an effective deterrent to those intent on breaking the law. He said the Department would be forwarding recommendations to this end.
“I think we would be recommending increase in the penalties, particularly those offences that are ticketable. I think $100 is really insignificant to the amount of money that the bus drivers make by hustling. Suspension of licenses, to my mind, is a stronger deterrent, but what I find is that the court is usually reluctant to do that simply because that is most of the drivers’ main source of income to support their families. Only in extreme cases would the person be deprived of that opportunity. The court presently has the discretion to suspend a person who is convicted for any traffic offence, but they save that for rare occasions when outcome of the accident is grave.”
Notwithstanding that the Traffic Department is responsible for traffic, Henry explained that the success of the Department and its initiatives are largely dependent on the partnerships it builds with NGOs such as the bus and taxi associations across the Federation. He said the Department’s aim is to strengthen these relationships “which would redound to the benefit of all road users”.
