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.
