bahamiangoddess
06-25-08, - 10:29 AM
June 25th, 2008
Law Would Ban Tailgate Riding
By NAVARDO SAUNDERS
A senior official in the Department of Road Traffic said Tuesday that a proposed law that would prohibit people from riding on the tailgate of vehicles is set to go before parliament for approval, as authorities look to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and make drivers and their passengers more accountable.
Michael Hudson, road safety coordinator in the Transportation Policy and Planning Unit of the Road Traffic Department, said traffic police are constantly investigating serious accidents in New Providence and the Family Islands involving people being ejected from tailgates.
He said presently traffic police could only warn people not to ride on tailgates.
"There is no law currently that prohibits people from sitting on tailgates, and despite continuous warnings [about the dangers], there are still many people doing it," he said.
The law would make it illegal for people to ride on any vehicle or upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for use of passengers when the vehicle is in motion, or for a driver to allow anyone to ride there.
The law would make exceptions for some employees and for officially sanctioned parades and special events.
Failure to adhere to the law would result in a fine, suspension of licences and/or imprisonment.
Mr. Hudson said there have been instances in which people were intoxicated while sitting on tailgates. The end result, he said, has often been tragic.
"A sudden stop by a driver, or a swerve to avoid an object, animal or person and that is all it takes," he said. "People are seriously hurt, paralyzed and some even lose their lives."
Some of the people who are ejected end up landing on a windshield of another car or in the middle of the road, causing harm to others, Mr. Hudson added.
"I have done my own assessments and noticed that more and more people are wearing seatbelts," he said. "I see adults buckling up and I see them buckling up their kids. That is a good sign. Our message has not changed. One life lost is one too many and people must realize the life they save could be their very own."
Mr. Hudson said traffic accidents in the country are slightly down in the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year.
There were 24 road deaths during the same period last year compared to 17 so far this year, he said.
He attributed the decline to ongoing efforts by the Road Traffic Department to raise awareness of road safety.
"As we speak, we have ads playing on all the major radio stations about road safety," he said. "We have billboards up promoting it. We are going into the schools targeting new drivers and also stressing how important it is to wear seatbelts, to look both ways before crossing the streets and how to properly use the pedestrian crossing."
Mr. Hudson said the department hosts a youth symposium every October for new drivers, particularly teenage drivers.
He said police and paramedics are invited to talk to the drivers to inform them of the dangers of not being responsible.
Mr. Hudson said the Road Traffic Department will continue to conduct campaigns, as its goal is to keep in people’s minds the importance of road safety.
Law Would Ban Tailgate Riding
By NAVARDO SAUNDERS
A senior official in the Department of Road Traffic said Tuesday that a proposed law that would prohibit people from riding on the tailgate of vehicles is set to go before parliament for approval, as authorities look to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and make drivers and their passengers more accountable.
Michael Hudson, road safety coordinator in the Transportation Policy and Planning Unit of the Road Traffic Department, said traffic police are constantly investigating serious accidents in New Providence and the Family Islands involving people being ejected from tailgates.
He said presently traffic police could only warn people not to ride on tailgates.
"There is no law currently that prohibits people from sitting on tailgates, and despite continuous warnings [about the dangers], there are still many people doing it," he said.
The law would make it illegal for people to ride on any vehicle or upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for use of passengers when the vehicle is in motion, or for a driver to allow anyone to ride there.
The law would make exceptions for some employees and for officially sanctioned parades and special events.
Failure to adhere to the law would result in a fine, suspension of licences and/or imprisonment.
Mr. Hudson said there have been instances in which people were intoxicated while sitting on tailgates. The end result, he said, has often been tragic.
"A sudden stop by a driver, or a swerve to avoid an object, animal or person and that is all it takes," he said. "People are seriously hurt, paralyzed and some even lose their lives."
Some of the people who are ejected end up landing on a windshield of another car or in the middle of the road, causing harm to others, Mr. Hudson added.
"I have done my own assessments and noticed that more and more people are wearing seatbelts," he said. "I see adults buckling up and I see them buckling up their kids. That is a good sign. Our message has not changed. One life lost is one too many and people must realize the life they save could be their very own."
Mr. Hudson said traffic accidents in the country are slightly down in the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year.
There were 24 road deaths during the same period last year compared to 17 so far this year, he said.
He attributed the decline to ongoing efforts by the Road Traffic Department to raise awareness of road safety.
"As we speak, we have ads playing on all the major radio stations about road safety," he said. "We have billboards up promoting it. We are going into the schools targeting new drivers and also stressing how important it is to wear seatbelts, to look both ways before crossing the streets and how to properly use the pedestrian crossing."
Mr. Hudson said the department hosts a youth symposium every October for new drivers, particularly teenage drivers.
He said police and paramedics are invited to talk to the drivers to inform them of the dangers of not being responsible.
Mr. Hudson said the Road Traffic Department will continue to conduct campaigns, as its goal is to keep in people’s minds the importance of road safety.