‘Reduce speed limit’

THE Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) is reiterating its call for the speed limit around all schools to be significantly reduced, and for the requisite signs to be erected to alert motorists of the need to slow down in those areas.

President of the BRSA, Sharmane Roland-Bowen, is adamant that such measures are needed to protect the school children, who she said as pedestrians are vulnerable road users. She is suggesting that the speed limit should be no more than 40 kilometres per hour, but noted that for schools that are situated in close proximity to a highway or a main road, there are vehicles travelling as fast as 80 kilometres per hour. As such, she said Government needs to take steps sooner rather than later to remedy this problem.

“The chances of our vulnerable road users dying as a result of a crash with a vehicle rise, especially at speeds 60 and above, that is death for that person whether they are old, middle age or young. So we want the authorities to look at the speed limit imposed around schools. While we applaud them for putting a speed limit of 40 in the area of the old St. David’s school [Thelma Berry Nursery School], we strongly believe that such should be done around all schools, not just one or two, but all,” she indicated.

Her comments came as she said it is imperative that a similar approach be taken in respect of residential communities across the island. She noted that too often motorists are traversing such areas as though they are on the “open road” or a race track and she contends that such behaviour has to be curbed. She further contended that there was an urgent need for more pedestrian walkways and sidewalks to be created to ensure that persons could more easily traverse the country, without fear of being struck by a vehicle.

“We have a lot of ailments and chronic diseases ... because people lack exercise; and while walking is a good form of exercise, most people are afraid to walk because of what is happening on our roads – the reckless speeding of some motorists and the lack of pedestrian facilities. So we are calling on the relevant authorities, both in Transport and Health, to look at this with the view of seeing what can be done to improve the situation,” she added. (JRT)