Grim traffic accident statistics for Dominica

traffic

Road traffic accidents have been singled out as the leading cause of death among young people between the ages 15 and 24 and the third leading cause of death for persons between 25 and 44 in Dominica, officials say.

Facing such grim statistics, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Environment Violence and Injury Surveillance System (VISS) Committee has developed a draft National Strategy and Plan of Action for the Decade of Road Safety with assistance from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Ross University.

It has adapted the plan of action recommended by World Health Organization which includes five pillars: road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users and post-crash response, the MOH stated.

Additionally from May 4th to 10th Dominica will join the rest of the world to observe the 3rd annual Road Safety week under the theme: Save Kids Lives.

A number of activities will be undertaken by the Traffic Department of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Service, in conjunction with the Violence and Injury Surveillance System (VISS) Committee.

They include an address by the Minister for Justice Immigration and National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore, media public awareness; promotion of use of seat belts and helmets; demonstration on pedestrian and street crossings by the police and distribution of bumper stickers.

The highlights of the week are a stake-holders workshop to review the draft National Strategy and Plan of Action for the Decade of Road Safety and a town hall discussion on Road Safety by the Police, Ministry of Health and Environment, the Bus and Taxi Associations and Insurance Companies.

This discussion takes place on Thursday May 7, 2015 at the Ministry of Health Conference Facility (Old APU building) at the Princess Margaret Hospital from 7:00 pm.

The objectives of the week is to promote safer road use among children, increase awareness on road safety among the general public with special awareness of child road users.

According to the UN, very year about 1.3 million people around the world lose their lives due to road traffic crashes and it is projected that this figure could rise to 1.9 million deaths by 2020 without effective action.

Dominica was hit with a series of road accidents, some fatal, last week.

See full statistics below.

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35 Comments

  1. Discombobulated
    May 6, 2015

    It doesn’t take a genius to know that drink or drugs driving / riding is the real leading cause of death in accidents. Reason that statistic is not there is because it isn’t even on police radar. No breath tests etc. The police have a 100% record of zero tests for drug or alcohol abuse at the wheel or handlebar

  2. Anonymous?
    May 6, 2015

    A good place to start is as simple as buckling a seatbelt. I was told by a Dominican, that they don’t werar seatbelts because it doesn’t look cool. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard!

  3. mine
    May 6, 2015

    Carelessness, speed and showing off will cause all these accidents always in a rush to overtake other drivers.
    As my mother used to say to busy will never makes the breaking of day.

  4. The Facts
    May 5, 2015

    A conspicuous sign should be placed on either end, prior to a road bend, warning drivers to drive cautiously.
    For God’s sake and for the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians, perform your work efficiently and enforce the Law!

  5. Anthony P. Ismael
    May 5, 2015

    I hope this is not another meeting filled with platitudes, where the big boys and girls move to the “Helba Room” after the meeting is finished to drink their whisky and pat themselves on the back.

  6. Devoted Dominican
    May 5, 2015

    DNO,
    I know that you will not publish this comment, for you share part of the blame by not printing the facts that people want to know. The main cause and reason of road accidents and deaths are being caused because of very poor government safety standards on the roads of Dominica. Where are all of the vehicle and motorcycles that are being donated to the police department by other countries? also where are all of the many policemen that are being hired by the government to patrol the roads which would help keep those accidents from happening? how often do you see a police car or motorcycle patrolling the major roads of Dominica? (NEVER) so whenever there is a vehicular accident and death on the road, please blame the ones responsible. And that is the Police department of Dominica.

  7. May 5, 2015

    Traffic awareness, Enforcement, Safety and Vehicle’s Road worthiness has become a big joke in Dominica.. In February of this year whiles on Vacation, I witness some mad and careless driving especially with the passenger buses and Motorcycle/Moped riders on the road,it looks to me it’s an everyday thing, even in the heart of Roseau,that even the police turn a blind eye to it.
    So people, talk is cheap… action speaks louder than words, look out for more accidents on the road of Dominica.

  8. Gabby
    May 5, 2015

    I waiting for the fellah who blame Skerro and/or Alkaline for all the accidents…when the real problem is that we have too many people on the road who do not know how to drive safely, who are too concerned with driving fast and overtaking everyone around corners. What we need is people learning how to drive cautiously and with more respect for other drivers.

  9. Music Producer
    May 5, 2015

    More African organs for the market…why would they care when they cash in at our expense and misery?

    • The Facts
      May 5, 2015

      When they are dead they cannot cash in but their beneficiaries. It is something they should think of and drive carefully.

  10. Peace
    May 5, 2015

    Oh wow! The stats on the number of death by gender is pretty telling. Hope part of the response involves reaching out to 24-35 y.o. males … the young immortals.

  11. Mango Juice
    May 5, 2015

    Thank you DNO for the article.

  12. Peter Potter
    May 5, 2015

    This article yet again highlights what is fundamentally wrong in Dominica – talking, talking, workshop, discussions, more talking! Enforce the bloody road laws that’s all you have to do! If afterwards there is further need for more action, by all means sit down and discuss what more to do.

    • Evey
      May 5, 2015

      You hit the nail right on the head! It is action time.

  13. Jane Doe
    May 5, 2015

    “Alkali” dat do dat. Pray for Deliverance.

    • Jam Rock
      May 5, 2015

      This statistics shown are for years prior to 2015…Alkaline was just here yet you make that statement? Stupes…

    • Gabby
      May 5, 2015

      Jane it seems intelligence has been delivered out of your head with that statement…Papa God…and to make it worse you cah even spell Alkaline name properly

      • Dominican
        May 6, 2015

        Jane did you notice it was in quotation marks? Now doesn’t that tell you that the person deliberately spelt it this way? I think you are the one who needs more than spelling lessons, you need a course in grammar :mrgreen:

    • The Facts
      May 5, 2015

      :lol: :lol: :lol: Do not make me laugh. You have anyway. This appears to be a household name and word. :lol: :lol: :lol:

      • haha
        May 6, 2015

        Lolz allu making me laugh we pal

  14. mandate 2 mismanage
    May 5, 2015

    What gets me is that all the decision-makers in this and other situations in Dominica have traveled and have access to the internet. The fact is they are unwilling to speak up and say WHY they are unable to carry-out their jobs effectively. While we spend millions paying back all sorts of debts, and covering the PM’s trysts across the globe, we do not have enough for adequate training, tools, management to reach goals, etc.

    Dominican police can be very tough when they have to be, sometimes overly so. There is no excuse as to why they can’t curb the traffic problem. The point is, so long as an issue isn’t threatening the gov’t directly, it is not given priority, there is no plan of action, we just have these half-@$$ed measures that one could expect from a high school student!

    Tell them Lennox Linton is about to protest on the road, and you’ll see how quickly laws start getting enforced and police squads are dispatched around the island!

  15. Liberty
    May 5, 2015

    The obvious enough action to take.Lets have all those motorcycle police bikes out on patroll There are more police per head of population than other islands.Driving standards are so poor in general,the only safe way for me to stay alive is by defensive driving at all times

  16. trendy
    May 5, 2015

    Why it is that we wait for dooms day before we take precautionary measures; Where is law enforcement cause the laws are on the books.
    As “diasporans” we call out some of these flaws and safety violations and many times our comments are unwelcomed.
    Drinking and driving is a custom; we are rediculed for buckling up;motorists show no regards for pedestrians; passengers and motorists throwing items out the window; wild overtaking;
    As noted in an article written by doctor Christian why it is in 2015 we have no breath evaluation for drunk drivers; why the cops don’t speeding detectors and why isn’t there spot checking in areas where motorists speed and do crazy overtaking particularly under the canefield cliff.

    • The Facts
      May 5, 2015

      May I inform you the same goes for other countries, right in the country/city where I reside. Deaths have to occur before they do anything. This is a shame and disappointing.

  17. Jennifer
    May 5, 2015

    Posted a comment with error
    3. Traffic police dedicated to the prevention of road code violations

  18. Jennifer
    May 5, 2015

    I really believe the government need to take a stand on this one. Hon. Ian Pinar please take note. The country definitely needs structure.
    1. Stricter road codes
    2. Road signs
    3. Traffiction police dedicated to the prevention of road code violations.
    4. More traffic lights
    5. Speed bumps especially around the city, villages, and schools
    6. Speed limits.
    7. More fines and penalties especially on drunk drivers.

    But then again the police themselves drive around drunk and break all the rules.

    • Jennifer
      May 5, 2015

      Correction
      3. Traffic instead of Traffiction cause that’s definitely not an English word sorry

    • bleh
      May 5, 2015

      Dont forget enforcing the proper use of bus stops and public transportation for both the vehicle drivers and passengers.

  19. grell
    May 5, 2015

    AS long as the fools which keep on riding the motorcycles and scooters recklessly,why should anyone care if they themselves dont give a damn.

    • mandate 2 mismanage
      May 5, 2015

      They should care b/c those not on the scooters get hurt in these accidents as well, and many are young and make foolish decisions. They shouldn’t exactly have to die for it.

      We police certain things very well in Dominica. People lose their jobs for not taking harsh measures in checking crab-backs, but life-threatening issues such as this, such as child sexual abuse, such as murder, are somehow not receiving the level of attention they deserve.

    • The Facts
      May 5, 2015

      I often say, it appears that some drivers do not love themselves and their lives which is why they drive recklessly. Once behind the wheel, as they drive fast and exceed the speed limit, they feel safe and never think they will get into an accident and a fatal one. Then it is too late for them to slow down.

  20. Dominica my favorite vaca spot
    May 5, 2015

    I saw this coming, sadly this is no surprise to me. I have been visiting Dominica for a number of years now. And one of the observations I have always been bringing up is the unawareness of the drivers to road signs. I have almost been in 2 accidents whiles visiting Dominica and I pointed the careless behavior displayed by drivers. The motorcycle and scooter conductors have no road etiquette. I was of the belief that they think vehicle die not people. So it comes not as a surprise the spike in road accidents because there are more motor-able roads. Drive safe Dominica…protect your nation’s most valuable resource “It’s People”. Condolences to all the families who have lost love ones. It is now on you’ll to create the awareness of road safety.

  21. Smile
    May 5, 2015

    “Save kids lives?”…. Ok people, let us get out all our baby goats and teach them road safety… tsk, tsk, tsk…when will we learn to call our children children? Our children are not kids, they are children.

  22. Zandoli
    May 5, 2015

    Did you guys notice this “plan of action” does not say anything about enforcement? Again all these guys go is talk. Unless you are willing and prepared to use some form of enforcement, all these initiatives will fall on deaf ears.

    • Dominique
      May 5, 2015

      Like seriously is there anything that can be done in dominica for it not t be critisized. And to make matters worst the pigs that talk lives is a complete mess. take care of your affairs.

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