NASSAU οΎ– The 22 fatalities recorded in Grand Bahama in 2005 represented a 100 percent increase over 2004. Chief Inspector Edmund Rahming, who has responsibility for traffic in Grand Bahama and the Northern region, reported yesterday at the annual crime briefing at Police headquarters that 2004 “ended with an escalation in traffic fatalities after the hurricanes in September.”
In an effort to decrease the figures Insp. Rahming said the department conducted joint operations with divisional police stations, directed more time to monitoring road users and implemented new initiatives targeting disobedient road users.
By September, he said, six lives had already been lost. “By this time our figures had increased by 100 percent instead of decreasing by 50 percent, which we were working very hard to achieve.”
However, he said, Grand Bahama held the number two spot for traffic fatalities behind New Providence between January to September.
Additionally, he explain-ed that nine of the 11 deaths occurred within a short distance.
“Speed and drivers’ inattention may have contributed to some of these incidents. The road surface is in fairly good condition and the lighting is adequate,” Mr. Rahming pointed out.
Insp. Rahming said a highway patrol unit was also mounted last year, with a group of officers whose sole responsibility was to “patrol the busy highways at peak hours to ensure that our road users comply with safety rules of the road and to see that they arrive at their destination without becoming traffic fatality victims.”
By October 15, there were already 19-recorded fatalities.
There would be two more fatalities recorded in November, he stated, highlighting that Madeira bark trees claimed four of the 21 lives. The last fatality for the year was recorded on Christmas Day with the death of a 60-year-old male pedestrian, pushing the numbers to 22.
“There was a total of 20 traffic crashes, eight were with multiples (more than one passenger) and 12 involved a single vehicle and other objects such as trees, utility poles or concrete wall. An increase of 140 percent over 2004,” Mr. Rahming said.
Of the total numbers for last year, there were 11 drivers, seven passengers, one cyclist and three pedestrians killed.
Moreover, he stated, that 15 deaths occurred at night-time while there were five in the day.
As regards other traffic matters, Insp. Rahming said there were 1,146 accidents, 357 injuries, 490 traffic offences reported, 3,838 fixed penalty notices, daily road checks and 2,842 matters sent to court- four of which were fatalities.
Insp. Rahming listed driving without due care and attention, driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or fatigue, excess speed, poor lighting or signage, poor judgement, etc., as some of the causes for accidents.
“If we are to experience a decrease in our road accident statistics, there must be more involvement on the part of every road user,” he said. He also urged motorists to take responsibility for their own safety when behind the wheel.
By JIMENITA SWAIN, Nassau Guardian Senior Reporter
