Stray cattle cause extensive vehicular damage

By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-FOLLOWING a recent animal-related accident west of Sandy Point that caused extensive and costly damage to the passenger bus ‘Sun Beam’ (H 8336), Inspector Vynetta Wyatt, Head of the St. Kitts Traffic Department has urged the public to be more conscious of speed limits, especially in areas where animals are known to be problematic.

“The most important thing is that persons should always drive within the speed limit, which is 20 miles per hour in town and 40 on the open road.

“I say this because if a person does happen to hit an animal while driving, they are much less likely to sustain injuries if they are not travelling at excessive speeds,” Wyatt told SKNVibes.com.

As the Sandy Point accident marked the second incident of this nature to occur within a one month period, SKNVibes.com asked Wyatt if these types of incidents were on the rise in St. Kitts. The Inspector said she could not say with certainty if this was true.

 “One thing we know for sure is that in certain areas, such as between the second and third roundabouts in Frigate Bay and the New Guinea area outside of Sandy Point, the occurrence of animals being on the road happens more frequently and drivers should take adequate precautions,” Wyatt informed.

It has been speculated that the root of the problem in the Southeast Peninsula is that animals are being driven off of the as development quickens in that area.
 
Wyatt said she had heard cases of cattle transferred to New Guinea from the peninsula trampling fences and roaming free in the new location.

“In Frigate Bay the Police Force has noted that the late afternoon and evening are the times when large numbers of animals can be seen roaming between the golf course and the Salt Pond,” she said.

Unfortunately, legal action against the owner of the animals has proven difficult, as they almost never claim an animal involved in a traffic accident so as to avoid paying for the damage.  ~~Adz:Right~~

According to the Inspector, the Police Force is taking initiatives such as capturing animals and placing signage in troublesome areas to help prevent future accidents. She advised however, that motorists drive within the speed limit and be especially cautious while in known grazing areas during the nighttime hours since the animals are more difficult to catch sight of in time to avoid collision.