BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CHILDREN are now taking a stand against reckless driving as the Dean-Glasford Primary School launched the first phase of its Road Safety Awareness Campaign on Fri-day (Apr. 29).
Members of the Dean-Glasford Primary School Student Council, the Principal and teachers in conjunction with the Traffic Department of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force took to the streets and bus terminals in Basseterre to hand out bumper stickers with a selection of road safety tips to drivers and pedestrians.
President of the Dean-Glasford Primary School Student Council, Eustacia Morton said that the the campaign was suggested at one of their meetings and everyone agreed, mainly because they are displeased with the way drivers use the roads, especially bus drivers.
“During a Student Council meeting, we asked for ideas and the distribution of the bumper stickers was one of them that we all agreed on because we do not like the way drivers drive, especially the bus drivers.
“We hope that bus drivers and other drivers do what they are supposed to do. We hope that they take extra care when they are driving and realise that they are not the only ones on the road.” Morton said.
Principal Elsie Patrick-Leader said that the Student Council decided to execute the community project to alert drivers of safe driving.
The Principal said that she had spoken with Sergeant Calvin Amory of the Traffic Department, who is also the school’s Liaison Officer as well as President of the Parents-Teachers Association, and he decided to assist with the campaign.
She also said that she is grateful that the National Caribbean Insurance (NCI) sponsored the campaign and thanks them for coming on board with them to make it the success that it was.
Sergeant Amory told SKNVibes that he sees the campaign as the right move towards alerting drivers to use the roads safely.
“I think this campaign is the right approach to alerting drivers to take precaution when driving. By partnering with the school, I think that it is a step in the right direction because, in my opinion, it will have a better impact on the drivers when they see that the children are the ones asking them to use the roads safely,” Sergeant Amory said.
He went on to say, “I hope that with this campaign drivers would recognise the risks involved in driving and pedestrians would also do their part in helping to decrease the amount of accidents, because it’s not just about buckling up and speeding, one also has to know how to cross the roads safely and how to use the pedestrian crossing.”
Some of the bumper sticker tips include: Warning! Children are on board; Don’t use me [mobile phones] while driving; Stop speeding; Don’t drink and drive; Keep your eyes on the road; Obey all traffic signs, etc.
