Dominica on road safety drive

road safetyGovernment has said it will engage in a major sensitization drive to push for road safety in Dominica.

Today, (Tuesday) Dominica together with the rest of the world, observes the start of Global World Safety Week, under the theme: ‘Protect the Pedestrians, Preserve Life,’ which focuses on the safety of pedestrians.

Some of the activities will include radio addresses, school lectures, distribution of traffic safety flyers, public demonstrations and announcements.

Dominica’s Minister for National Security, Charles Savarin, said statistics from the United Nations indicate that more than 3,000 people die from traffic collisions per day, and more than half were not travelling in the vehicle.

“Nearly 1.3 million people die each year as result of road traffic collisions. Over 20 million more people sustain non fatal injuries and a substantial amount of them result in some form of disability,” he said.

According to Savarin, the vast majority of road traffic deaths occur in low and middle income countries, although these countries possess less than half the world’s registered vehicle fleet.

“Road traffic injuries are among the three leading causes of death for people between 5 and 44 years. It is predicted to become the 5th leading cause of death in the world for all ages. The deaths resulting from traffic collisions are expected to increase to 2.4 million each year,” he explained.

Last year Dominica recorded 11 road fatalities, three of which involved pedestrians.

A total of 51 collisions involving pedestrians were recorded during the same period.

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15 Comments

  1. Justice and Truth
    May 8, 2013

    Much has to be done to prevent road accidents as teaching drivers road courtesy and patience. They must obey road regulations including the right of other drivers and pedestrians. They must also consider their passengers well-being and life.
    Some of them especially those who are involved in transporting passengers think that the faster they drive, the quicker they will arrive at their destination and return for more passengers and to make more money.
    Then, no drinking and driving whatsoever. At certain times as Christmas, the police should be out there to stop drivers at random and inspect them for such and give them a breathalyzer test. Also test their vehicles for road safety. If necessary, to pull them off the road.
    Stringent rules should be implemented including stringent fines for those who disobey road regulations, who cause accidents, injuries and death.
    The Court System should also not be lenient with them. This is also not to grant bail. Based on who is at fault and the result of those accidents, let the punishment fit the crime. In the end Dominica will be a safer place, free of road accidents which injure, maim and kill nationals. Preservation of health and life go hand in hand.

    • Jay
      May 8, 2013

      You obviously have not visited Dominica for a long time. The police do not have brezathalyzer kits. The las time |I suggested it they asked if I would buy the equipment for them. We don’t test for driving under the influence of other, mind-affecting substances such as marijuna or cocaine either. As far as I know we don’t even use fingerprinting/analysing techniques but stand to be corrected on that. Dominica is not Toronto. As the Non. Minister offor Health so famously said:”Dominica is a third-world country” as an argument for not introducing IPO legislation.

  2. St.john Mingo
    May 7, 2013

    Safe driving is down to the person behind the wheels.lose your concentration and the engine takes over.The police got it right.DRIVING WITHOUT DUE,. CARE AND ATTENTION.THINK OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD AND STAY IN CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE

  3. Jay
    May 7, 2013

    There are many things to be addressed, such as qualitied tutors and examiners, but for a start can we make sure people’s eyesight is adequate for safe driving before handing them a licence?

    • Kaka Bouwik
      May 7, 2013

      Aspiring drivers should be required by law to take a written test(exam).The officer(s) doing the road test must themselves be certified or competent drivers.I am in total agreement with jay.An eye examination by a registered eye doctor should be mandatory.Brochures or booklets in colour depicting all traffic signs should be made available to ALL applicants for a small fee as part of the application process.

  4. Annon
    May 7, 2013

    To address road safety, please start by building roads that don’t wash away whenever there is a bit of rain!

    • Me
      May 7, 2013

      what a STUPID statement!!!!!! building roads cost money. I am sure when you get your salary you don,t use it all for one thing, you budget and plan

    • JoJo
      May 7, 2013

      Don’t know Anon. Looks to me that we have more accidents now we have better roads than before with worse roads. Maybe we had to pay more attention then.

  5. Rastafari
    May 7, 2013

    This is almost not possible with the BAD roads we have in this country. Road safety cannot occur with-out better road conditions…they kind of go together, y’know!

  6. Jimi Hendrix
    May 7, 2013

    One of the most effective deterent is a stiff fine. Hit people in the pocketbook and you will see an immediate change in behavious in a lot of road users. I haven’t had a parking ticket or moving violation in over 20 years.

  7. how
    May 7, 2013

    Strange idea, sometimes to protect ourselves we need to take our thoughts out of the equation. Do no leave it to us to always do what is right, when to give way and when to enter into traffic. That said, our roads have signs but we may need more. In the town we could do with a couple traffic lights well especially fond cole on the highway to stockfarm to name one area. It only takes one person who miss judges to create a fatal accident. These are some of the measures that need discussing, having uniformed police on the streets at rush hour or after school. So much we can talk about! I expected more stats on Dominica’s situation in that speech.

  8. toma
    May 7, 2013

    Driver education is important. Police presence is also.But one have to admit that there is a lot of ignorance among some drivers when it comes to road safety.
    There is a big difference between fast driving and reckless/careless driving.And some drivers don’t really care what they do, who they hurt and are sometimes lawless.

  9. Openeyes Observer
    May 7, 2013

    It is about time that Dominica addressed its appauling road safety matters. However, will anything be done to enforce any new or existing policies? What will happen to those who do not adhere to these new road safety policies? I suppose the police will turn a ‘blind eye’ as usual. We cannot develop a nation until we develop the minds of our people. So, everyone needs to be part of this. Speak out against those that do not help the country to address its problems, and remember to take personal responsibility ourselves.

  10. Jackie Brown
    May 7, 2013

    It’s about time that something get done regarding the safety of pedestrians on Dominica roads. When I visit Dominica and to see pedestrian(s) waiting to cross the Zebra crossing the driver(s) do not stop and they are even using it a a bus stop. I have a feeling that these people see the yellow marking as something to brighten up the road.

    • Malgraysa
      May 7, 2013

      You are so right. I don’t think many people appreciate that a zebra crossing gives priority to pedestrians but the most dangerous habit is for our bus drivers to stop and unload passengers right in front of- or even on a crossing. Passengers then have to cross the road in front of a bus with its engine running and invisble to vehicles behind the bus. If you must stop near a zebra crossing, do so after you have passed it. One wonders where they learned their road skills. But it are not only the bus drivers. In the their widom the authorities have also located busstops/shelters on the wrong side of zebra crossings. One notious spot is the bus shelter at Fond Cole. Insanity gone mad!

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