The increasing numbers of traffic fatalities and accidents have stirred the Government to pilot an “anti-skid surface” road scheme in various areas of New Providence.
In a telephone interview with the Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts on Sunday, he said the Ministry introduced this device at Skyline Drive on the right hand bend, East Bay Street near Montagu where teenager Vanessa Fox was killed in a traffic accident last year and Marlin Drive at the junction of Emery Street.
If the anti-skid device proves successful, he said, expansion of its use in New Providence, and the Family Islands which are identified as problem areas is intended.
Anti-Skid has been used in Europe, the United States and many other countries for a number of years he said,
The scheme is designed to create a more textured surface, to create a grip of tires which will be achieved by using an anti-skid surface Mr. Roberts explained.
Anti-Skid is principally made with PSV, Polish Stone Value, aggregates such as calcite, bauxite and bonding resin. These aggregates have PSV in the range of 72-86 depending on the source, which is in comparison to granite, has PSV of 50-62, and limestone which has a PSV far less than granite.
Currently, the majority of the roads in New Providence have asphalt concrete pavement using limestone.
The anti-skid surface is applied to a clean and structural sound asphalt surface and can be applied either hot or cold depending on the type of bonding he said.
The resurfacing of these roads should be completed within 90 days, at a cost of $15,000 per location.
However, Mr. Roberts said drivers must reduce speeding on our busy streets, which is the primary cause of traffic casualties locally.
“We must examine how we should develop best practices in enforcement, education, publicity, to achieve a workable and cost effective approach,” he said.
Adding that policies in Bermuda is an example of the level at which The Bahamas should consider taking road safety.
“They limit the number of cars on the road – one per family, except in extraordinary circumstances where there is a doctor. They enforce the traffic rules down there; they send you to jail and take away your license for life. They don’t sky-lack. They also rigidly enforce the speed limit, which has a maximum of 25 miles per hour; they also use a lot of mopeds down there, and the last time I checked the vehicles down there were required to have a Governor down there, which limits how fast you can travel in the vehicle,” Mr. Roberts said.
“I think we ought to have a look at that because we have all these high powered vehicles on the road, and the maximum speed is 45 miles per hour, but these vehicles are capable of doing 150, and some more than that. I mean, these young people go wild,” he said.
“The same for these motorbikes. I think that if you restrict them, that’s how you will contain them,” he said.
By Vanessa C. Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
