Significant decrease in road fatalities

Sep 17, 2008 News

…but 14,012 speeding cases made in nine months – Police

There has been a significant decrease in road fatalities this year, when compared to 2007. A police press release stated that enforcement efforts by ranks and traffic education activities have resulted in the decrease for the period January 1 to September 14, 2008.

At this time last year, there had been 116 accidents resulting in 136 deaths, 19 of which were children. However, for this year, there have been 66 accidents and 77 deaths, three of which were children.
According to the release, speeding is the leading cause of road fatalities.

It was revealed that of the 66 fatal accidents this year, 36 were due to speeding, eight resulted from driving under the influence of alcohol, and seven were because of the failure of motorists to conform to traffic signs.

Most of the victims for this year, to date, were pedestrians. Twenty-five pedestrians were killed in accidents, nine pedal cyclists, 12 motor cyclists, five pillion passengers, 11 drivers, seven passengers of motor cars, four passengers of lorries/vans, and four passengers of motor buses.

Private cars, motorcycles and minibuses were more common in fatal accidents for this year. The release revealed that 18 private cars, 17 motorcycles and 13 minibuses were involved in road fatalities, while there were nine bicycles, nine motor pick-ups, 11 motor lorries, seven hire cars, two motor vans, two tractor/trailers and one motor jeep also involved in accidents.

The Police Traffic Department’s zero tolerance traffic enforcement “Operation Safeway” continues countrywide.

According to statistics provided, up to September 14, a total of 51,226 cases have been made against defaulting motorists.

The more prevalent is speeding, with some 14,012 cases being made out; overloaded minibuses – 4,221; unlicensed drivers – 1,648; failure to wear seatbelts – 1,344; failure to wear safety helmets – 1,629; breach of insurance – 832; breach of traffic light signals – 854; breach of road service licences – 946; obstruction – 5,221; and stopping within 30 feet of a corner – 6,183.