Tuesday, August 12 2014

THE EDITOR: The Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce is deeply saddened by the high spate of road carnage, loss of lives and fatal accidents occurring on the nation’s roads.

This latest accident at the Endeavour Flyover on Tuesday July 29, 2014 that claimed the lives of the three Ramcharans from Barrackpore has ignited the Chamber to endorse the appeal for greater safety on the nation’s roads.

Our research has found that there has been 80 fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents for the year up to July 31, 2014, resulting in 92 deaths. The majority of these are from excess and inappropriate speed and driving during impaired perception eg alcohol, drugs and fatigue. Of these, four were under the age of 18 years.

The Ramcharan family travelled from Barrackpore to Mt Hope Hospital to obtain dialysis service for their son. On their return trip after dialysis, a car driven by a 21-year-old man collided with a truck, which lost control and ran over the median from the north to the south bound lanes of the Uriah Butler highway. The truck landed on the Ramcharans’ car, killing all three occupants on impact.

Due to these facts the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce is advocating the following:

1. Barriers along the highway, especially the high risk areas, to prevent Motor Vehicle Accidents.

2. Proactive Highway Patrol policing eg Patrolling of the highways by officers and intercepting law breakers for reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, exceeding the speed limit, inconsiderate driving on the right side of the highway leading to dangerous overtaking on the left side, drinking and driving while under the influence of alcohol and speaking on mobile phones while driving. We believe that merely having the Highway Patrol along the highway parked for observation is not effective

3. Enforcement of annual vehicular inspections: The Licensing Authority and Trinidad and Tobago Police Service can charge persons for driving defective vehicles or vehicles that do not display certified license stickers eg defective lights and tyres, heavy tints on glass, defective and dangerous body parts, horns etc.

4. Above all of these the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce would like to appeal to all citizens to drive safely and abide by all traffic laws. Be considerate to your fellow road users.

5. Finally we would like to recommend to the Minister of Transport, the Commissioner of Police and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service that all drivers between the ages of 17 to 25 should undergo a safety driving course at the time of obtaining their Driver’s Permit. This is to be renewed every two years.

CHAGUANAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE