Road safety took centre stage on Sunday, 17 November, observed as Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims.
In a statement, Saint Lucia’s Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport (DIPT) highlighted the pressing need for caution and safety on the roads, noting that the island has recorded 22 road fatalities this year, alongside numerous injuries.
According to Lenita Joseph, the Department’s Permanent Secretary, “The statistics of collisions for this year, to date, indicate that pedestrians and passengers have been at highest risk due in large part to the increasing number of incidents involving passenger vehicles.” Speeding, as well as improper use of the roads, she stated, were among the biggest culprits causing crashes.
Officials stressed that the effects of road accidents extend far beyond the moment of impact, often resulting in long-term emotional, physical, and economic devastation. In addition to victims, family members and first responders are frequently left grappling with the lasting consequences of traffic incidents.
“Our emergency and health services are constantly under pressure to respond to and provide post-trauma care,” said Joseph. She added, “The economic costs associated with the high risk [of road incidents] is manifesting in increased premiums for motor vehicle insurance.”
The department also pointed to the rising number of vehicles on the island as a contributing factor to the growing risk of accidents. “With an average of 300 vehicles landed monthly in Saint Lucia, the level of exposure and probability of crashes will continue to rise, resulting in an increase in the number and severity of injuries,” Joseph highlighted.
While the DIPT acknowledged that individuals must take personal responsibility—drivers, pedestrians, and passengers alike—it also emphasised the need for heightened enforcement of road safety laws. Joseph says the department hopes these measures will send a “strong and clear message of intolerance for continued disregard for road traffic rules.”
To address these challenges, the department says it has initiated the development of a road safety policy aimed at providing targeted responses to traffic-related issues. This move aligns with their observance of Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims, which they describe as an opportunity “to provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families. To remember all persons killed and seriously injured in road traffic crashes and to advocate for more decisive actions to prevent road traffic deaths and injuries.”
Looking ahead, Joseph issued this appeal: “As the festive season approaches, we take the opportunity to encourage all road users to be careful, be safe, be responsible.”
