BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DURING the second half of this year, the Traffic Department, in conjunction with the Public Works Department, has installed a number of speed bumps along specific roads as a means of promoting safety of both motorists and pedestrians.
Weeks ago, SKNVibes had taken note that two sets of speedbumps had been placed along one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Basseterre area, Upper College Street. A considerable amount of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, daily traverses that road especially since at the end of it is what is known as the St. Peter’s Bus Stop.
Shortly after their installation, SKNVibes received reports of commendation being given to the Traffic Department for taking that initiative.
One individual recalled that it was the same road on which a young woman was hit by a vehicle and lost both of her legs.
SKNVibes spoke with Head of the Traffic Department Inspector Carl Caines who explained that the speedbumps at College Street are among 10 that have been installed across the Basseterre area. He said care was taken to ensure that most of them were placed in areas which are regularly frequented by school-aged children.
Two speedbumps were placed along the road outside Tucker Clark Primary School, two along the road that leads to the Seventh Day Adventist School – Leonard Dickenson Street – four along the road in front of both Washington Archibald High School and Beach Allen Primary School, and the remaining two were placed at Upper College Street Ghaut.
Asked about the rational for the placement of these speed bumps, Inspector Caines said, “They help to deter speeding. They were deterrents for persons who are tempted to speed. This doesn’t mean, however, that they will replace our regular patrols in ensuring that motorists obey the speed limits. As a matter of fact, we are going to ensure that we are more visible in short order.”
Inspector Caines informed that it is the Traffic Department’s wish that these items be in every school district across the Federation. He said the 10 had been procured under the previous administration and the Department is hoping to procure several others.
“We would have really liked to have them in all the school zones but because of limited resources, we thought it best to place them at the most-needed areas for now. We are hoping that we would be able to procure others as soon as possible, and when that happens they would be similarly placed.”
Meanwhile, the Traffic Department is advising that Leonard Dickenson Street would be closed to vehicular traffic from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday (Dec. 12) to 6:00 p.m. on Monday (Dec. 14) to facilitate work that would be taking place there. Road users are asked to govern themselves accordingly.
