BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OFFICERS of the Federation’s Traffic Department are being congratulated, commended and thanked for their performance during the past year and for their achieving, albeit slight, a reduction in the number of traffic accidents.
Information retrieved from the Traffic Department indicates that a 0.5 percent reduction in the number of traffic accidents reported to the department in 2009 was realised. A total of 1 131 reported accidents were recorded in 2008 as against 1 125 in 2009.
A breakdown of those figures indicates that while an increase was recorded in the area of slight injuries which saw 140 in 2008 and 159 in 2009, decreases were recorded in the areas of non-injury which recorded 936 in 2008 and 922 in 2009, serious injury which saw 44 in 2008 and 40 in 2009 and road fatalities which saw a more than 65 percent reduction from 11 in 2008 to four in 2009.
The Department has also disclosed that 2 272 vehicles were registered in 2009; 1 664 in St. Kitts and 608 in Nevis, which pushed the total number of registered vehicles to 14 625 in St. Kitts and 7 022 in Nevis.
The number of licensed vehicles recorded in the Federation for 2009 stands at 16 636; 11 719 in St. Kitts and 4 917 in Nevis.
Also during 2009, the Department recorded that 2 407 practical road examinations were sat with a 33.11 percent pass rate and 2 124 theory examinations sat with a 33.85 percent pass rate.
In an exclusive interview, Head of the Traffic Department Inspector Cromwell Henry provided comments on the department’s performance during the past year, stating that the reduction indicates an achievement of the department’s objectives.
“We were able to reduce the number of accidents in 2009 slightly compared to 2008 and it is always the objective of the department to keep the number of accidents as low as possible, or at least lower than the previous year’s. We have also managed to reduce the number of serious and fatal accidents in 2009 compared to 2008. Again, for us, that is significant given the impact that these types of accidents have on the economy and society as a whole.”
The decrease, notwithstanding its miniscule nature, is said by Henry as being no small feat, especially in light of the increase of motorists evident by the 582 local driver’s licenses issued and the near 700 temporary licenses issued by the Traffic Department and other agencies.
Henry attributes the department’s success to its weekly educational programmes aired on local radio stations.
“We attribute part of our success to our weekly radio programme which deals with traffic-related issues and seeks to educate drivers and road users on the best practices in road use. The programmes are very interactive and we are satisfied that we are achieving our objectives through these programmes, which are maintaining a high standard of safety on the road.”
The Traffic Department Head expressed thanks to his subordinates for their hard work and dedication throughout 2009, and explained that without them the achievement would not have been possible.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Traffic Department, because these are the ones who made the achievement possible. So, I want to just express my appreciation for their hard work in maintaining safety on roads.”
The Traffic Department has a number of wide-ranging road-related responsibilities including the registration of vehicles and upkeep of registers of licensed and registered vehicles, the painting, erection and maintenance of road signs, the investigation of road traffic accidents, traffic law enforcement, testing of new applicants for drivers licences, the upkeep of record of new drivers and driver’s licence renewals, public education and traffic management at major events.
Henry said the department holds road safety in high regard and is committing to execute its duties during 2010 with meticulousness. He also stated that the department is hoping to effect a further reduction in the number of traffic accidents.
