Gov’t agencies vow to decrease traffic fatalities
Whether you’re a pedestrian, cyclist, driver or passenger, you’re probably not surprised to hear that traffic accidents is one of the leading causes of death in Belize. But what should frighten you is the reality that fatalities on the nation’s highways have implications beyond the grief for friends and family. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports about the latest efforts to reverse the disturbing trend.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
According to the latest national statistics, traffic accidents remain the number one cause of death for Belizeans aged one to forty-nine years old.
In 2005, the police department recorded two thousand three hundred forty-nine incidents that resulted in the deaths of fifty-six people. In 2006, there were forty-seven fatalities in the two thousand three hundred and sixteen accidents that occurred on our roads. And so far this year, there have already been five hundred and forty-nine collisions and sixteen related deaths. Further analysis reveals that speeding, alcohol and drug abuse as well as the use of cell phones while driving are directly related to most of the accidents.
In the face of that reality, over the last year, the Ministry of Health, with support from the Pan American Health Organization, has led a government agency and private sector committee to devise a five year strategic response to improving road safety.
Dr. Jorge Polanco, Acting Director, Health Services
“The underlying problem is the human behaviour. You could have the best road but if you have a drunkard the possibility for a traffic accident is still there.”
According to Acting Director of Health Services Dr. Jorge Polanco, the five year plan will focus on young road users, which has been identified as the population most at risk.
Dr. Jorge Polanco
“It is not easy because it’s a behaviour that is true for all other diseases, all other social problems but the strategy should be information, education, very strong messages to sensitize the young adults geared towards making them responsible drivers.”
Janelle Chanona
“And partnering that with harsh enforcement to make sure that…”
Dr. Jorge Polanco
“Of course. If you see in there we have a significant number of the attendees are law enforcement officers so then they are being sensitized to really take their job serious and to really enforce the laws. The laws are there but I believe the enforcement has not been as best as we would like.”
The plan, which focuses on policy and legislation, advocacy and surveillance, was officially presented and signed this morning during the first United Nation’s Global Road Safety Week. Under the theme, Road Safety is No Accident, the idea is to promote partnerships to decrease the number of accidents.
Government supporters include officials from the Ministries of Education, Health, Works and Home Affairs. For its part, the Ministry of Works will be ensuring the integrity of the roads.
Cadet Henderson, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Works
“Principally, we need to put more money into safety appurtenances such as crash barriers, such as rehabilitating areas of the roadway where we know the tilt on the curve need to be increased, the efforts we are doing right now in resealing the slippery areas which we know have a sub-standard skid resistance level. And so this year I’m optimistic that we have the budget to complete the Western Highway and that was one of the number one accident zones.”
In a district breakdown of accident zones, statisticians contend that most often drivers involved in Corozal crashes die at the wheel. In Orange Walk, cyclists are usually the victims, while pedestrians account for the fatalities in the Cayo district. Stann Creek drivers also have a tendency to die behind the wheel. And while Toledo has the lowest incidence of accidents, cyclists and pedestrians are the ones that pay the heaviest price.
Jose Coye, Minister of Health
“We can help to create an environment of infrastructure that are adequate for the roads, we can help to create an environment of enforcement and we can help to educate but we have to integrate into the community. I think the challenge that faces humanity in changing lifestyles and behaviour must go beyond the responsibility of government. We have the right to life but we have a responsibility to ensure that right to life and it’s the responsibility of every individual, every family, every community. So I think we need to now move from beyond, as we are doing, the ministerial responsibility, the state and government responsibility but into the community.”
Official activities of Road Safety Week will include the launch of a public education campaign, talk show appearances and increased patrols by law enforcement officials. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
According to the Ministry of Health, between 2001 and 2005, local insurance companies paid out more than thirty million dollars in injury benefit claims related to traffic accidents. Road Safety Week officially ends on April twenty-ninth.
