By MORGAN ADDERLEY
SPEED appears to be a “common trend” in the six traffic fatalities that occurred on the weekend, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said yesterday, however he added all of the incidents had not yet been analysed.
“There [were] six accidents over the weekend which raise some concerns in our country…. While we have not analysed all of these accidents, there are implications that speed seems to be a common trend in all of [them],” he said during a press conference at police headquarters.
“We are asking persons to pay attention while driving, particularly around this time of the year. People are going to have a lot to drink, and we are asking them to be responsible. You could be a good driver…but the minute you slip to look at your cell phone, [an accident can occur]. So we have to avoid the cell phone, the distraction.
“And we still see persons driving with little children…in their laps as they ride around. That’s a no-no. Make sure persons are secured in your vehicles, their seat belts are on. We implore people to be careful, be patient, if you have to go places, take your time. A lot of these [speeding incidents] happen late in the night; people leave these nightclubs, or leave from the outings, the parties, and believe they’re in the right frame of mind after drinking, and they take these highways, take these roads with a high rate of speed, with no consideration for [anyone] else. And things do happen. Out of nowhere, a crash happens.
“So we [are] asking people to be responsible, be alert, around this Christmas time.”
Police have identified three of the six traffic fatality victims. The man who died on Sunday morning after his car crashed into a lamp pole on Eastern Road has been identified as Drazen Desmond Johnson, 24, of Eastwood Estates.
The two men who died near a race track on Corridor 7 near Government High School on Sunday evening have been identified as Omar Wallace Forbes, 20, of Carmichael Road and Jonas Petite, 19, of Key West Street. This incident involved an accident between a black Honda and a motorcycle shortly before 6pm. As a result of the accident, the motorcycle driver and his passenger died at the scene. The driver of the Honda was not injured and remained on the scene to assist police.
Comments
Porcupine 6 years, 4 months ago
I live on a small Family Island. The last couple of years has seen a terrible increase in speeding and reckless driving. The police do virtually nothing about it. We have no other crime, so what are they doing? Most all of the premature deaths occurring here are due to speeding accidents. The solution to this carnage is straight forward and simple. SLOW DOWN. If we can't get a grip on this problem in our country, what hope is there in solving our more complex problems?
Dawes 6 years, 4 months ago
Of course speed is a factor and at a guess drinks as well. When we drove at 20 mph home after a few drinks we may have hit a wall but for the expense were ok. Now people are driving at 80 mph weaving in and out of traffic as though they are invincible. Red lights are run at all times of the day and yet i have not seen the police stop one car for doing this. WE need to slow down and the police need to enforce the laws.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID