LAST WEEK, the Ministry of Transport and Works issued a statement expressing concern about the 13 road fatalities which have been recorded in 2017.
It also urged road users to show more care and attention as road accidents were preventable.
“Many of them are caused by inappropriate speed for the road conditions, refusal to wear a seat belt or use a child restraint, driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drug, bad judgement and generally, driving without due care and attention,” the statement said.
Online readers again weighed in on road safety and road use in Barbados.
• Erica Murray: When did Barbadians start listening to advice about road safety? If they were, you wouldn’t be pleading with them now. Stop talking and get to work on plans to rectify the situation.
• Alex Alleyne: From my very first day at school, right after prayer, our headmaster spoke to the school on using the roads. Next, we all said the tables from 2 to 12.
• Claire Adam: Police should be on the highways instead of sitting at stop signs. The amount of nonsense going on every day is unbelievable. On-the-spot fines, then take away their licences. Get some much needed money back into the system which can then be used for better lit pedestrian crossings, lighting and pavements.
• Mary Adams: Do not stop on the highway to let someone cross the road when traffic is going 80 (madness). The crossings on the highways are too close to where you come off the roundabouts. Drinking and driving needs to stop, but so many important people and officials do it, which is why it continues not to be passed. Other countries have learnt to deal with it, so can we. Slow speed limits in school zones – cars fly past some of these schools with little children on the sidewalks. These are just a few of my beefs/observations.
• E Jerome Davis: Add to your list, poor markings, no signs, no speed limit signs, bush-overgrown roads and so on.
• Ricardo Bascombe: Also persons driving with lights on full beam and those white lights that are being used now also can be hazardous.
• L Tonz Medford: I am of the opinion that poor lighting is one of the major issues. The stretch from the roundabout that would take you to My Lord’s Hill going all the way up to the Bussa Roundabout is pitch black. Not a light is working on that stretch. When it’s so dark and traffic is coming the other direction and the lights are spotting in your eyes, it’s very difficult to see where you’re going.
• Russ Orford: If the Ministry of Transport was concerned about road fatalities it would of at least pushed through the drinking and driving regulations which we all know has a great deal to do with a lot of the island’s road fatalities. It is ludicrous that in the 21st century Barbados does not have drinking and driving laws.
