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Fatal Accidents Up
Between 1 July 2004 and 31 January 2005 (7 months) there have been six fatal accidents that killed six people. All males, they ranged in age from 17-44. Four were drivers, one was a pedestrian and one was a bicycle rider. Statistically, that averages almost one death per month, compared to the previous 18-month period, when deaths averaged one every two months. From 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2004 (18 months) there were seven fatal accidents that killed nine people, seven men and two women, ranging in age from 20-59. Six were drivers and three were passengers. “What we are seeing here is the realization locally of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) forecast that the Caribbean region will experience traffic accidents and deaths to epidemic proportions in the 17-34 age group,” said MattSafe’s Patricia Ebanks, whose organisation is working to reduce teen driving deaths. “The local increase may be complicated by post-Ivan recovery issues, but it is very worrying. I particularly appeal to novice drivers and their parents to be vigilant in safeguarding teens against predisposing driving conditions,” Ms Ebanks said, pointing to those as:
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