The Tribune

By RIEL MAJOR

Tribune Staff Reporter

rmajor@tribunemedia.net

THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force is hoping to decrease the amount of traffic fatalities and traffic accident on the streets of New Providence, Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters at an Aliv press conference held at the Paul Farquharson Centre, ASP Stubbs said in 2018 police saw an increase of traffic fatality victims by 28 percent.

“We also saw where the major contributing factor of these accidents were distracted drivers. Persons engaged with the use of handheld devices while operating their vehicles. Globally the use of handheld mobile telephones has emerged as a road safety problem as drivers or road users are distracted while operating a vehicle where they fail to remain in their lanes, stop at traffic signals and obey the traffic signs,” ASP Stubbs said.

“... The use of handheld devices has caused more traffic fatalities or other traffic related incidents where motorist talking on cell phones drive as badly as if they were drunk.

“As we know the amount of accidents has impacted family members, impacted our health care, impacted our many agencies as relates to families losing loved ones and some people still have disabilities as a result of road traffic accidents.”

Yesterday, the RBPF announced it had partnered with mobile phone company Aliv as well as the Bahamas Motor Sports Association to promote road safety.

Aliv will host an interactive and informative road safety event at Fusion Superplex on May 11.

Jayme Pinder, Aliv marketing executive, said beginning May 6, which is the start of Global Safety Week, the company will officially launch its safe driving campaign dubbed, “Arrive Aliv”.

Ms Pinder said: “[The campaign’s] purpose is to bring awareness to not only our subscribers but Bahamians at large on the importance of safe driving. We intend to do this with visual campaigns that will be disseminated to the public on a frequent basis with the assistance of various media houses along with our partner over at Fusion Superplex.

“We understand that we have given our subscribers great products and great service and we want them to be able to use their devices all the time, but safe driving is best driving. The same way we believe in best is the same way we believe in safety and nothing is more important than your life.”

Aliv’s campaign will also include an event on Saturday May 11 that will give information on safe driving.

She said: “[Attendees will receive] free phone accessories for your vehicle including a phone holder and a Bluetooth headset, free bumper stickers that will allow you to be chosen to win numerous prizes and surprises by random selection and the most exciting and perhaps a little chilling of it all, is the simulator experience that will allow you to see and feel some of the effects of an accident caused by distracted driving.”

She added: “While we will be heavily pushing this campaign throughout that week, this is an initiative that we will continue to push to the public for the rest of the year and beyond. We will also be releasing new devices in our stores for purchase in the near future to help you on the journey to safe driving.

“We hope to see you all on Saturday, May 11 as we work to enforce safe driving in the Bahamas in conjunction with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Bahamas Motorsports Association by extension the FIA.”

Last year, police said there were 63 accidents that resulted in 69 deaths. Forty-two of the traffic incidents occurred in New Providence, 11 in Grand Bahama and 10 in the Family Islands.

This represents an increase of 29 percent when compared with 2017 — a year when there were 54 traffic fatality victims in 49 accidents.