EDITORIAL: Road safety must be paramount
The Barbados Fire Service (BFS) reported a 22.4 per cent increase in road accidents as of December 27th last year, when compared with the same period the previous year. The Force further revealed a steep rise in the number of vehicular accidents for 2017, mainly due to drivers losing control, which was said to have resulted in a near tripling of the number of road fatalities.
As of December 27th, 2017, the Fire Service released statistics which indicated that there were 93 motor vehicle accidents up until that time, compared to 76 in 2016 and as of December 6th, 2017, there were 24 fatal accidents resulting in 27 road deaths, whereas there were ten fatalities for 2016. Before December could come fully to a close, we were also made aware of another fatal accident. What a way to close off a year!!!
It is really sad to see Barbadians and even visitors losing their lives on local roads, especially in instances where loss of life could have been prevented. As such, it is not only the Fire Service that has to be concerned with the issue of safety on our roads or even the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA), which has been more than persistent in its calls for measures to be taken to reduce fatal accidents and collisions on a whole, such as the introduction of stiffer penalties for drivers who cause others to lose their lives on the road via reckless driving as well as Breathalyser testing. It must become the concern of all Barbadians.
Going forward into 2018, we have a number of areas to work on at the national level. For example, we have a number of economic, social and environmental issues that have been plaguing us for some time now. Whilst we need to address all pressing problems in an expedient manner, the issue of road deaths and general safety on our roads must be one of the priority areas, as we are losing productive members of our workforce with too much ease.
Government must move to ensure that the amendments to the Road Traffic Amendment Act, recently brought before Parliament, do become law in a reasonable period of time, so we can have some redress in key areas and so Barbadians who may be tempted to flout the law, get the message that the current administration means serious business, when it comes to matters of road safety and preserving human life.
As we move into the second day of the New Year, and as we as a people settle back into our routines, let us give some thought as to what is really under our control and what we can really change, in this promising year of 2018.
Not everyone is found of making New Year resolutions, but for those who are, you may be thinking about that new business venture you want to start, now that 2018 is here. You may want to live a healthier and happier life. You may want to rid yourself of all or most of the stresses in your life. You may decide on taking up a new hobby, a new talent, a new exercise plan, a new job. Whatever your thoughts and your resolutions, we pray that they will be practical and doable and that they will actually get off the ground this year. Just ensure that one of those resolutions also involves more defensive driving and paying greater care and attention on our roads.
Happy New Year!!!