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President of the BRSA, Sharmane Roland-Bowen.
 

BRSA hoping for amendments soon

 

THE Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) has welcomed the assurance from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley last week, that proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Act should be before Parliament for approval shortly.
 
Speaking for the BRSA, President Sharmane Roland-Bowen, in commending Government for reviewing the piece of legislation, reiterated her call for the amendments to be passed by both Houses of Parliament and proclaimed before the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of Independence this November. She told The Barbados Advocate that the BRSA strongly believes that the amendments must be made if the country is to significantly reduce the carnage on the nation’s roads and accidents in general. She made the point while noting that the road deaths for 2015 exceeded those recorded the previous year.
 
Roland-Bowen, noting that among the proposed amendments is to be the introduction of breathalyser testing and the use of handheld cell phones, maintained that any changes to the legislation that do not comprehensively address these two areas of concern to the BRSA would be an injustice to the people of Barbados.
 
“We must see the use of intoxilyzers so that we have accurate records of the alcohol content in a person’s system, which can then be used as evidence against them in court. 
 
“We do not know yet if the legislation will speak to driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence. These are the things I am eager to hear about,” she added.
 
She indicated that while often interchanged, the two terms sometimes mean different things and as such, she is adamant that the legislation must be specific. 
 
Last week, Minister Lashley, speaking at the launch of the International Road Assessment Programme for Barbados, stated that he had received documentation from the Attorney General in relation to breathalyser testing to commence discussions with stakeholders and those interested in it, the impact that provision will have. Roland-Bowen said she is keen on sharing the BRSA’s views with the authorities.
 
Ban distractions
 
Meanwhile, as it relates to banning the use of handheld cell phones, the BRSA spokesperson said she understands that aspect of the proposed amendments also seeks to ban the use of any electronic device by the driver that would distract their attention. 
 
“So DVD players and so on in the line of sight of the drivers would be banned. They can’t be driving and watching movies and distracting themselves,” she added. (JRT)
 
 

 

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