Donald Deveaux
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
TWO people were killed in a car crash during a weekend that recorded more than a dozen traffic accidents.
Police said the number of accidents over the weekend –– 16 up to press time –– was not unusual, but the number of traffic deaths so far this year, 20, is unusually high.
Authorities are urging drivers to “slow down” and exercise caution.
The traffic deaths happened around 2am yesterday on West Bay Street, where a silver coloured Nissan March and a white BYD vehicle collided.
Both drivers –– a Filipino national and a 46-year-old Bahamian identified as Donald Deveaux –– had to be extracted from their vehicles with jaws of life and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Superintendent Coran Jennning, second in command of the Royal Bahamas Police Force traffic division, said the number of traffic fatalities this year is concerning.
“By this time of year, we don’t have those kind of numbers, but for the majority of our fatalities, speed was a factor, and we always encourage the public to slow it down,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, whether it’s night or day, you should still adhere to the speed limit.
“Not because it’s dark and the road is empty means you exceed the speed limit and I think that played a big factor in that fatality based on the damage we saw.”
Supt Jenning said none of the weekend accidents appeared connected to popular parties or events.
“From what we see on a daily basis, we would have up to 15 to 20 traffic accidents ranging from serious to minor,” he added.
“In total from (Saturday) to now, there was about 16 accidents and it’s going to be more at the end of the day. I can’t say by how much but that’s a normal number.”
By May 31, 2023, 22 people had been killed in traffic accidents, prompting Transport Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis to call the trend “worrying”. The country is already exceeding that pace in 2024.
Ultimately, there were 51 traffic fatalities in 2023, down from 59 in 2022. There were 46 traffic fatalities in 2021.
In 2022, there were 10,586 road accident reports. There were 11,023 such reports in 2023.
“Safety week starts on Friday,” said Supt Jenning. “We’re going to do a live remote giving out some safety tips and speaking about drinking and driving and encouraging persons that there are non-alcoholic beverages such as Heineken Zero.
“We’re going to take that opportunity to speak to the public.”
Comments
Sickened 1 week, 4 days ago
Well it definitely wasn't the Filipino who was speeding as they tend to drive over cautiously - which can also cause accidents. Too fast AND too slow are problematic.
TalRussell 1 week, 4 days ago
If the potholes don't get you, the steering wheel will do you in. --- Driving on the left-hand side of the road means overtaking on the right-hand side of the road with the steering wheel to its left. --- Yes?
IslandWarrior 1 week, 4 days ago
Stop the Traffic Assassinations
"Now, while we rightfully focus on addressing gun violence, we must not overlook the equally pressing concern of the hazardous traffic conditions faced daily by both Bahamians and tourists. Although traffic incidents may not lead to immediate deaths as frequently, the consequences of these accidents are often life-changing and tragic for many innocent road users.
Insurance companies may implement a three-strike rule for high-risk drivers, yet such drivers can easily switch to other providers. Despite the presence of substantial penalties for serious traffic violations, connections such as having a relative in the police force may enable some offenders to evade accountability.
Reckless driving behaviours such as running amber lights or failing to stop at stop signs can lead to devastating collisions, especially when these actions disregard the rights of other drivers. Such negligence can result in fatal outcomes and long-lasting repercussions for those involved.
In conclusion, the focus on addressing gang violence must extend to include the equally deadly issue of traffic violence. It is essential to direct the same level of attention and resources to both forms of violence to protect lives and foster safer communities."
3 and 4 charges of reckless driving, and you lose your driving privileges
Driving with privileges revoked,
$5,000 or 6 months
Road rage and overly aggressive
driving - $500 or 2 weeks
... to start.
bahamianson 1 week, 4 days ago
What a thing to say. Dude, if anyone drinks at a psrty, he/she is prone to get into an accident prior to arriving home. A number of situations can cause an accident and it has nothing to do with an unuasual high incid3nce. I know , it is high because Donald Trump caused it.
IslandWarrior 1 week, 4 days ago
By May 31, 2023, 22 people had been killed in traffic accidents, prompting Transport Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis to call the trend “worrying”. The country is already exceeding that pace in 2024.
Ultimately, there were 51 traffic fatalities in 2023, down from 59 in 2022. There were 46 traffic fatalities in 2021.
In 2022, there were 10,586 road accident reports. There were 11,023 such reports in 2023.
"And the Zionists didn't provoke a Palestinian response."
ThisIsOurs 1 week, 4 days ago
Depends on how much they drink, is their driving skill impacted: is their response time affected, is their vision affected etc etc
John 1 week, 4 days ago
The mystery of some drivers having Bahamian drivers’s licenses but can’t speak any English. A lot of what is perceived to be road rage is actually bad driving by persons who obviously rook driving classes. These small Japanese vehicles are very speedy. Especially the Cubes. And if an inexperienced ( or panicked) driver locks the brake at a high rate of speed, the vehicle will most likely launch forward and cause an accident. You are driving slow on some roads if you are doing 40 mph. Some roads are near impossible for pedestrians to cross because of the high rate of speed vehicles be traveling at. When you approach a roundabout or intersection and the vehicle behind you starts blowing their horn, Thisbis really a traffic offense and besides being annoying, it causes some drivers to panic.
ThisIsOurs 1 week, 4 days ago
Pedestrians should not be randomly crossing the street.
A week ago I saw a young school child trying to cross on the curve of a blind corner (that street somewhere behind marathon mall). The driver on the other side had stopped and was frantically waving hand signals outside their window. I had no clue what they were doing, maybe a helicopter was landing nearby. I did not see the child until I was almost parallel to them and the only thing I could think was how stupid and irresponsible of the driver. If they wanted to help the child cross safely, they should have parked their car walked over to the child spoken to them about the danger of trying to cross the road on a curve, walked them a safer distance away, told them to look left and right, then cross.
But no. I looked in my rear view mirror and the dummy was frantically waving at the child to cross the road.
I see alot of people who believe they're being helpful doing nonsense like this. Stopping on a four lane highway in moving traffic to let a car across to the opposite lane for example. The only time it's relatively safe to do that is if both lanes are backed up, traffic isnt moving, and it's clear the driver in the other lane has given way as well.
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