Traffic Accidents Increased By Over 25% In 2014

Even with a number of awareness groups advocating road safety, the Traffic Department has disclosed that it has recorded a 25.6% increase in traffic collisions for 2014.

According to official documentation, one thousand, seven hundred, sixteen traffic collisions were reported to the Traffic Department for 2014, indicating an increase of three hundred, fifty when compared to the previous year.

In a recent interview, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Joseph Hughes, noted that not only do accidents affect the ones involved and their relatives, but there is the economic aspect of an accident to consider.

One of the more vocal groups is the Antigua & Barbuda Road Safety Group Inc. This safety group is a Non-Governmental Organization registered in Antigua, and which acts on the principle of saving lives and reducing the severity of road crashes.

They have, since the inception, advocated that road crashes affect everyone and place a burden on the country’s Emergency and Medical Services.

The group operates on several pillars which they deem will be to the benefit of the country. These are road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users and better post-crash response.

The actions of the Antigua & Barbuda Road Safety Group fall in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. This was established in May 2011, with a goal of saving 5 million lives by 2020. The mandate calls for Governments to release their National Plan for the decade.