The Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) has expressed grave concern over an ‘alarming’ spike in road accidents and has called for action by the authorities to ensure public safety.
An SLMDA release on Monday observed that in 2023, Saint Lucia recorded nearly 3,000 motor vehicle accidents, 352 classified as major.
Last year, the Island also recorded 22 road fatalities, and so far this year, the road fatality toll is 18.
The Saint Lucia Fire Service (SLFS), also concerned about the situation, recently revealed that, as of August 28 this year, there were 577 trauma responses to incidents involving vehicles and motorcycles.
Asserting that the current situation is untenable, the SLMDA stated that the road accident spike had increased accident and emergency admissions, putting pressure on the healthcare system.
The Association noted that the situation affects the quality of care for other patients due to the increased use of emergency services.
To address the crisis, the SLMDA urged the implementation of immediate measures.
They included stricter penalties for traffic violations to discourage reckless driving, mandatory breathalyzer tests at checkpoints to reduce drunk driving, increased use of speed detection devices, and more stringent compliance with roadworthiness standards.
The SLMDA called on the authorities to act swiftly and urged citizens to obey traffic rules and drive carefully.
“The time to act is now! Together we can do this,” the Association asserted.
PHOTO: Mangled wreck of vehicle after July 2023 fatal accident at Bois D’Orange.
I agree completely on this subject. I was hit by a driver who was on his mobile phone and smelt of alcohol. The police were not that concerned by this.
I also see lots of transport drivers stopping at bars then driving off to pick up passengers. Surely this is just waiting for a major accident.
Speeding cars and motorbikes with no care for others on the roads. No wonder the death toll on our roads is so high.
Introduce a score system. After 3 incidents… license suspended for a year.
Introduce speed cameras..deduct their fines.. automatically from their accounts…send receipt in mail
I agree, but suspend on the first account, why wait for 3.
Well said SLMDA. Our lives are important on the roads. Driving and being on the phone is top ofthe list. Action need now.
Imagine SLMDA making a bold and factual statement about an arguable pandemic–on the lives of victims, on the mental state of medical practitioners, on the physical state of first responders BEFORE the authority responsible for road safety. UNBELIEVABLE!!! That Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport etc has to be the most worthless of them all. You cannot tell me that day after day are accidents involving bikes, trucks, women, men, children, cows… every living thing on island and you are SILENT as an authority? Thanks SLMDA, hopefully they get off their deriers and do something, hopefully it wont take a case of “it hitting close to home” for some action.