Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin on Monday expressed alarm over the high number of traffic fatalities that occurred on Grand Bahama in 2005 and announced initiatives aimed at significantly reducing that number this year.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Minister Hanna Martin compared the high fatality rate to statistics out of New Providence.
She pointed out that there were 23 traffic deaths on Grand Bahama last year and 33 in New Providence.
"I think there's more than three times, maybe four times the population in New Providence," Minister Hanna Martin said. "There are many more vehicles [in New Providence] and yet Grand Bahama has this extremely high alarming rate."
Fourteen people were killed in traffic accidents on Grand Bahama in 2000; 12 in 2001; 10 in 2002; 11 in 2003; and eight in 2004.
Two traffic fatalities have been recorded in Grand Bahama for the year, the second victim succumbing to his injuries on January 16.
Because of what they consider an alarming increase, officials at the Department of Road Traffic will take a "comprehensive" approach to address the escalating rate of traffic fatalities. Those efforts, according to officials, will include a review of legislation.
Saying that 2005 was a "phenomenal" year for road deaths, Chairman of the Road Safety Committee Reginald Fraser revealed the committee's mandate for 2006.
"It is the mandate and commitment of this committee to advance programmes that will cause motorists to reduce their speed, especially within school zones," Mr. Fraser said.
He said education is the key to road safety and indicated that young people are the primary focus.
"This year, the Road Safety Committee's objective is to bring into focus the startling statistics associated with traffic crashes [and] also to educate our people, especially young people on skills necessary to ensure a safe environment on our streets," Mr. Fraser said.
He added that committee members plan to visit schools and will launch an advertising campaign.
He said high school debates and a health fair are also planned. Additionally, road safety spokespersons will be named.
The committee is also preparing to unveil the first road safety billboard on East Sunrise Highway in Grand Bahama where a number of the fatalities have occurred.
"We want Bahamians to understand that this is not a government issue solely," Minister Hanna Martin said. "This is an issue that involves every single member of the community."
According to statistics from a world report on road traffic injury prevention, road crashes are the second leading cause of death globally among young people aged five to 29 and the third leading cause of death among people aged 30 to 44.
By:Daphne McIntosh, The Bahama Journal
