THE BARBADOS Road Safety Association will be conducting speed surveys near to primary schools and in selected residential districts to support its campaign for a reduction of the speed limit to 30 km/h in these areas.
This was revealed by president of the association Charmaine Roland-Bowen yesterday as members marked the opening of Road Safety Month by placing a memorial marker at Blowers, St James, along the Ronald Mapp Highway where drainage worker Carlene Stuart lost her life on November 6 last year, when she was struck by a vehicle while debushing the side of the road.
“This is a very significant place because this is where she took her last breath,” Roland-Bowen told family and friends gathered at the site.
She said that Highway 2A was a very dangerous road, with many people observed driving above the 60 km/h speed limit.
“We want persons to know that from Bakers, St Peter to Warrens, St Michael, is 60 km and from Bakers to Mile-and-a-Quarter is 80 km. We want people to slow down . . . .”
The theme for the month is Speed Kills! Kill Your Speed!
The president said the association will also be conducting surveys on cellphone use while driving, children not being restrained in vehicles and people travelling in back seats without buckling up.
In addition, members will be visiting car parks to demonstrate and advise motorists on the proper way to wear seat belts, how to adjust headrests and how to properly inflate tyres.
Next Sunday, the association will be having its anniversary church service at the St Ambrose Anglican Church and later that day they will release balloons and light candles at Queen’s Park in honour of people killed in vehicular accidents.
Roland-Bowen pointed out that so far for the year the number of road fatalities was at 13 compared to 18 last year and she appealed to motorists to keep the figure below 18 this year. (MB)
