Action plan on road safety coming

The police check a vehicle involved in road accident
The police check a vehicle involved in road accident

Dominica could soon implement an action plan on road safety even as a high ranking police officer pointed out that the island’s roads are not completely safe.

On Thursday various stakeholders met to finalize the action plan which they say will reduce traffic accidents in Dominica.

The one-day consultation forms part of Road Safety Week which commenced here on Monday.

Coordinator of Health Promotions, Anthelia James says once implemented, the action plan will help to prevent death and disabilities among drivers, their passengers and pedestrians.

According to James, pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable to road traffic accidents. “Statistics show that one in five persons who die in road traffic deaths in Dominica are pedestrians,” she said.

At the consultation Police Superintendent David Andrew said road safety requires a collaborative approach between agencies and departments.

He pointed out that Dominica’s roads are “not completely safe” as traffic statistics reveal that between 2008 and 2012, the country recorded 4,971 vehicular collisions.

He further stated that between 2010 and 2012, there were 110 accidents involving pedestrians.

“This of course is sizable and as my good colleague would say …once accident is one too many,” he noted.

He said it is those kinds of statistics that caused the UN to take action against road fatalities on a global level.

“It is against this background that the UN was able to conclude that road fatalities is likely to become the leading cause of death in the world. The assembly also stated that immediate and effective action needs to be taken by all agencies if the trend is to stabilize and reverse,” he said.

In March 2010, the UN General Assembly declared 2011-2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety.

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39 Comments

  1. Safe Burglar Bar
    May 12, 2013

    I am very concern that despite the major catastrophe that can befall residents Dominicans continues to install burglar bars without access in cases of emergency. Please, please I beg Dominica Fire Service, and the Minister of National Security, can this be address ASAP before a fire emergency cause pain and anguish to many families? Thanks.

  2. sphinx
    May 11, 2013

    the government should be sued for not applying certain international traffic laws,cell phone,drugs search,alchotest,vehicle tests,seatbelts lights,:get them police do to random checkups and no favors for family or friends.and the loud music on the buses!

  3. jerseydomincian
    May 10, 2013

    dominica traffic light and highway light so drivers can see at nights too drivers in da a always in a rush to go nowhere.

  4. B_Arch
    May 10, 2013

    when speaking of road safety it’s not only the laws and bureaucracy which are of importance! what about the designs, the construction, the maintenance? how are those factors contributing to road safety? plus what are the measures been taken by government and others to ensure that those factors become nonfactors? are designers and engineers updated on road safety; are contractors updated on construction techniques and technology, are their methods suitable?

  5. me
    May 10, 2013

    Why are we not asking for some street lights these will help reduce the problem quite a bit

  6. Anonymous
    May 10, 2013

    These people speak of agencies but fails to mention who are the agencies responsible, how can this be resolved if the public don’t know who are the responsible parties for these results and what are the measures that can be taken to reduce road accidents. such bureaucratic crap!

  7. Anonymous
    May 10, 2013

    Visiting dominica last month , my wife and I almost got ran over by the this moslem lady driving a jeep at a stop sign in roseau, while talking on her cell phone she totally ignore the sign or did not see it, she was statle, but kept going how do i know she was a muslim she was wearing the tradtional head gear.

    dominican drivers need drivers education seriusly, they carry cutlasse under there seats so one has to be carfull, or you get your head chop.

  8. van
    May 10, 2013

    Drivers should be randomly tested and if shown to be ‘under the influence of alcohol’ whilst driving, given a warnng, fined and then baned from driving if caught again.

    One sure way of keeping dangerous drivers off the road.

    Drivers should also carry insurance certificates with them, and again penalised if not insured.

  9. Jus Saying
    May 10, 2013

    Why is it that we always have to wait on outside initiatives to do things in this country. So long we need to put such things in place. the system needs a completed overall. Example…police should through a database who have or havnt paid their licences and insurance an not screw up traffic in the morning stopping vehicles bc ppl call their ppl and they drop their customers in certain locations or park their vehicles and walk until the searches stop. Do you know the amount of drivers that drive around without licences,insurance, road ready vehicles, etc. Then the issues of applying for licence…hv u seen the document u receive, we have new signs on the roads and most drivers dont event know wat they mean…there should be in class sessions for new drivers, on defensive driving, road safety and maybe even a graduated licence system and that would include a manual to read and undertake an include exam before you go on the road with an L and hv u seen some of the vehicles that those driving schools are teaching ppl in – disasters waiting to happen. Traffic Police should also be walking the street, not waiting the public to call about an accident, drivers park any and everywhere, pedestrians dont hve place to walk those days! Also wat about night surveillance, the vehicle owners have those halogen lights that blind you and the police are not doing any thing about that as well as those extra dark tints…all these and more are road safety issues so wat are we going to do about those! Let us as a nation and policemen as enforcers of the laws play our part and do wat is right by addressing these issues also!

  10. Anonymous
    May 10, 2013

    What road safety the government is going to put? To tell a man not to try to take a left turn into the bush? Or to give a stay awake pill? Or is it to put bollards to prevent them from falling off the cliff every time there is a holiday, and they all driving drunk? Hopefully, the road safety will be some form of medicine for brain damaged no common sense drivers. I have seen many accidents in DA, and all of them have to do with stupidity of the driver.

  11. grell
    May 10, 2013

    street lights are needed esp going up to the hospital area,and theses nasty bus drivers need remedial training on transporting passengers.

  12. Buy Local
    May 10, 2013

    Adequate and properly placed traffic signs!!!!

    Just this morning I stood at a crossing walk while 10 vehicles sped by. I can’t blame them as it took me over a month to even notice there was a crossing walk there. There is no sign to indicate the incoming traffic that they are approaching a crossing walk. BTW, this crossing walk is near a school.

  13. :-(
    May 10, 2013

    Tell it stop coming and COME

  14. nature Girl
    May 10, 2013

    I find the bus drivers speed a great deal with passengers on board and even race each other. I am terrified to ride in a bus. I think there should be a speed limit imposed for bus drivers. Look how many buses have been in accidents this last year Ponte Casse was the latest one! When you drive a bus and are in a position of driving the public you need probably to have a special licence and be properly regulated.

  15. see no evil
    May 10, 2013

    ALL buses need to be fitted with speed limiters say 35mph and have regular tyre checks.

  16. Stakeholder
    May 10, 2013

    MR Mc lawrence, it would seem you were one of the stakeholders at the one day consultation, all the points you listed were taken on board

  17. looking 2
    May 10, 2013

    Police are the biggest culprit ensure that they follow all traffic rules as well and get punished when necessary and please enforce that bikers overtake on the left of other drivers.

    • looking 2
      May 10, 2013

      my mistake On the right of other drivers

  18. Clement Rabess
    May 10, 2013

    A focus on road safety is long over due and is welcomed with much enthusiasm.

    It is my hope that the good sense ideas that have been discussed during this time will be implemented and above all enforced.

    One good sense idea which will add to the safety of pedestrians using crosswalks is to make it mandatory that vehicles stopping within 10 feet of a crosswalk stop so that the crosswalk behind the vehicle. Doing so makes the crosswalk more visible to following vehicles.

    Another good sense idea is to create an incentive for buses to pick up and discharge passengers at designated bus stop only. The practice of picking up and discharging passengers any and everywhere is a safety hazard and should be stopped.

    Enforcement of the traffic regulations and fines for violations thereof can provide an incentive that would result in the enhancement of road safety. Such fines can help to defray the cost of maintaining the necessary and all too often missing road signage/markings.

  19. mega
    May 9, 2013

    fellas driving cars around like they’re flying space ships!!

  20. driver
    May 9, 2013

    What the police need to do is start revoking some peoples licence. And every year when someone has to renew then, a practical exam should be taken.

  21. Justice and Truth
    May 9, 2013

    Whenever there is an accident especially a fatal one in Dominica, practically everyone make the identical comment pertaining to most drivers’ attitude on the road, those who cause accidents. We hope this action plan will be heeded by all drivers. It is too sad that lives are shortened due to accidents.
    Consider those who are injured and maimed and the cost of hospitalization, medical, medicine and insurance costs, the latter for those who are insured. In view of this one would think that drivers would drive safely.
    Even though the roads are not completely safe, this is one of the reasons why drivers should not drive recklessly as also speeding.
    Sorry to state that, this morning in Toronto there were two fatal vehicular accidents also resulting in severe injuries. In fact, every day of this week there were fatalities and injuries. It is scary on the roads and highways and they are wide ones. I can imagine if Dominican drivers are not alert and careful how many more accidents will occur. Yes! There are one too many.
    Drivers must observe road regulations. This is to exercise road courtesy and patience which means consideration for other drivers and pedestrians. They must also try not to bypass vehicles unless it is safe to do so. They should also adhere to their side of the road and when turning a bend to proceed cautiously. What more information do they need to know to drive safely?
    Accidents cost lives and money. Drivers should consider driving as an art, more so safe driving. Lives and health are precious. We must do all we can to preserve them. In the end we will be happier for it.
    If I can help somebody, then my living shall not be in vain.

  22. good news
    May 9, 2013

    that’s why we are calling on the bicycle,scooters and motocycles ridies to start using there safter gears and by doing so still take care when thay ride its there life thay are the ones to take care of it so am asking that having helmets be part of this talk about action plan when it gets

    • Anonymous
      May 10, 2013

      The need to have insurance also to compensate the person family which they hit or kill.

  23. William Mc Lawrence
    May 9, 2013

    Make sure the following are included in the action plan:

    1. Seatbelt enforcement for both driver and front seat passengers.

    2. driving/ road etiquette need to be promoted.

    3. passenger and pedestrian safety.

    4. adequate and properly placed traffic signs.

    5. introduction of breathalyzers for intoxicated/ drunken drivers

  24. Satelite
    May 9, 2013

    How can they talk about road safety when anything, I mean anything that has an engine that works is allowed to be on the street and the police would just watch them pass by. In Portsmouth for example, forklifts and lawn mowers parade the streets everyday without number plates, no license to be on the roads and the insurance that the forklifts have is ONLY that they be operated in an enclosed area. I will be providing DNO with some more infor on these things soon.

    AL OVER THE WORLD TRAFFIC LAWS ARE BEING AMMENDED, REVIEWD, STRENGTHENED, YET IN DOMINICA THESE LAWS REMAIN ON THE LAW BOOKS WITH NO SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT. THE ONLY SET OF LAWS WHICH ARE NOT GIVEN ANY ATTENTION AT ALL, TRAFFIC LAWS.

  25. comment
    May 9, 2013

    I hope that the first measure you are going to implement is to outlaw driving and drinking…its awful to see mindless drunken jerks on the roads

  26. LCM
    May 9, 2013

    I am happy to see that some attention is now being paid to the problem, however we must state our statistics right. As stated above, “Statistics show that one in five persons who die in road traffic deaths in Dominica are pedestrians,”According to Ms. James, pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable to road traffic accidents. That Tells me that 4 out of every 5 deaths are not pedestrians. This means that passangers and operators seem to be the most vulnerable. Therfore more attention need to be paid on operator safety and use of seat belts etc. and enforcing driving laws.

  27. Kaka Bouwik
    May 9, 2013

    Does the plan include enforcement of ALL traffic laws? Will it give the police the RIGHT to impound ANY vehicle that is parked on a keep clear sign/in a no parking zone? What will be done to controll speeding in residential areas? I have lots more questions but i will stop for now.

    • Kaka Bouwik
      May 9, 2013

      Sorry but i must also ask these questions.Will it also address the use of seat belts.Will we see speed limit signs posted all over the place? Will these be enforced? What about driving under the influence of alcohol and other substances? and lastly has the traffic enforcement(patrol) division been beefed up

  28. May 9, 2013

    Safety rules should be in place by now in Dominica and the government should enforce the rules allow drivers pay a fine once they fail to obey the rules,drivers will be more disiplineon the road and also will create revenues and save life,special in the villages I have seen careless drivers speed in villages government should have officers on duty to check for the careless drivers in the villages

  29. "O" STRESS"
    May 9, 2013

    If we `re not part of the solution,then we`re part of the problem. The public has to be Euducated in more ways than one. But laws have to be enacted, or the ones on the books have to be enforced with a view to bring some corrective solutions to this ever growing epicdemic all over the World. Again we are reactive rather being proactive. How long it will take for distracted driving, ie, especially with the advent of all those cell phones, Riding without proper gear, loud deathing Music,blasting on vehicles,Vehicles are not road worthy, and the least goes on. Are we to be taken serious? Again talk,talk, and none stop talking, and no action. Why! Why! magwa sa!Imagine those of us who drive with our sit bealts “ON” are refered to as living or comining from over seas, we just not ready, and the Whole thing is a big, big joke. Tell me I am I do not know what I am talking about. “I am Dominican, ARE YOU?????

  30. dominican abroad
    May 9, 2013

    Please please put laws in place. I never felt so unsafe as when I visited home recently. Even walking on the streets seem to be dangerous. The speeding, and no consideration for pedestrians need to change. Please post speed limits and signs, and start ticketing those who don’t obey them, use that money to further develop our roads and schools. Get with the program DA

  31. C
    May 9, 2013

    May not be completely safe?? It’s not safe at all!!! Road markings, warning signs and road instructions are pretty much non-existent..

    • Xpress
      May 10, 2013

      That’s not completely true… If you drive from Possie to Roseau u realize the road is thoroughly marked and signs are at almost ever corner.

      • true
        May 10, 2013

        Some roads are marked, but lets us not only look down. Let us look all over. Let us put traffic lights and do not tell me that the technology is beyond us or it is too costly. An electronic student at the college can design one of those.
        Sit belts yes we need them. texting, calling and drinking while driving we don’t!

  32. Just saying
    May 9, 2013

    They need to put up Police Raders in differ locations on DA roads..And charge a high fine..Let’s see how well drivers will learn how to slow down!!..Besides they could use that money to benefits, to improve the roads! 8)

    • Just saying
      May 9, 2013

      Sorry for posting twice..My first post seemed to have gone invisible..Cause when I rewrote the first post reappeared.. 8-O

  33. Just saying
    May 9, 2013

    They need to put police radar on certain locations on the side roads in DA..Charging big fines…See how fast the driving will slow down!!..Besides, they could benefit by using that money to better improve the roads!.. 8) :-P

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