Saint Lucia is taking bold steps to improve road safety as part of its Millennium Highway and West Coast Road upgrades.
Officials say the initiative, funded by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnerships Fund and the Caribbean Development Bank, is vital for economic growth and human resource development.
Community Liaison Officer Tarah Leonard-Emmanuel highlighted the government’s commitment to safety.
“The government recognises the importance of road safety for human resource and economic development and the necessity of raising road safety awareness in the project area and nationally,” she said.
The project includes restoring 49.2 kilometers of road stretching from the La Toc roundabout to Soufrière.
The stretch will serve over 13,000 motorists daily, making safety improvements critical.
Between 2015 and 2022, Saint Lucia recorded 352 road traffic accidents, impacting 271 male and 81 female victims.
According to Ms. Emmanuel, “Evidence suggests that speeding and alcohol use are among the main causes of accidents.”
She added: “The overrepresentation of male drivers among road traffic accident victims raises questions about the relationship between social norms and hyper-masculinity and driving behavior.”
Saint Lucia has contracted FED Engineering to implement awareness interventions targeting all demographics, including men, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and schoolchildren.
The initiative aims to tackle risky driving behaviors and promote safer roads.
“This consultancy is expected to target the role of masculine norms and driving behavior, the safety of women, men, persons with disabilities, youth, and schoolchildren in the project sites and nationally,” said Ms. Emmanuel.
By addressing the root causes of unsafe driving and promoting behavior change, she said the government hopes to avoid human capital losses and empower road users across the country.
You will never change the motive for MONEY. Look at the pictures posted and many of them have a transport vehicle in them. Overtaking on blind corners and brow of a hill. Excessive speed in both rural and urban areas. All to make another buck. Funeral shrouds don’t have pockets. Better to arrive than not at all
You have not indicated what measures will be put in place to reduce the health and safety hazards during the rehabilitation of the West Coast Road. The volume of dust being generated during peak hour commutes is causing a serious health risk to the people who live along the thoroughway as well as commuters (since some vehicles are not equipped with A/C). Furthermore, the dust also causes reduced visibility for drivers even when driving at low speeds. When the surface is wet after rain, it is also very slippery.
It was ill-advised to have tackled such a significant section of the road all at once if the paving would not have been done almost immediately. I just wanted to make a few suggestions (1) explore the possibility of putting a thin regulatory layer of asphalt in those areas where dust is an issue. (2) better caution and road signs particularly in those dangerous areas. Flashing warning lights particularly when commuting at night in low visibility due to dust (3) better traffic management during peak hours (4) reviewing the approach being used to clear the sides of the road. This is removing key flora and fauna that keep the soil intact and makes these areas prone to land slippage and falling rocks.
I am still trying to understand the scope of this project.
I am pleased to hear that the government is taking steps to improve road safety for all. But what is glaringly sad, is the fact that millions have to be spent by paying some consultancy organisation to teach people with a brain how to behave safely when using the roads. Millions that could have been spent on other areas that needs some attention. It doesn’t take someone with a PhD to know that speeding, drink driving and other miscreant behaviours on the road could cost lives. It really highlights the state of citizens’ decision making. But I get it. It’s an action that needs to be taken to reverse the trend of tragic loss of lives.
There is no fix for stupid. They can only get the darwin award.