The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas recorded 10,563 traffic accidents in 2011, with 44 of them being fatal, according to statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Of those accidents, 8,653 were in New Providence, 1,160 in Grand Bahama and 750 in the Family Islands. Of the 44 traffic fatalities, 22 were in New Providence, 10 in Grand Bahama and 12 in the Family Islands. In 93 per cent of the fatalities the driver was killed, followed by pedestrian deaths and passenger deaths which represented 36 per cent and 27 per cent respectively. Forty-one of the people killed were men and three were women. Police also issued 20,190 traffic tickets and 3,181 traffic offence reports were written for traffic infractions. In the policing plan for 2012, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said enforcing the rules of the road is a priority of the police in this year. Priority number four in the plan, "Enforcing The Rules of The Road", was said to be a response to complaints related to the lawlessness of road users. "We have also noted the blatant disregard for traffic signals, road signs, and traffic laws, and general rules and regulations intended to facilitate road safety," the plan stated. "Added to this level of lawlessness is an emerging propensity for road rage and disputes arising from a lack of courtesy among road users." Objectives include targeting unlicensed drivers, underage drivers and consenting vehicle owners, driving under the influence, heavy vehicle operators with unsecured loads, and illegal roadside garages. During his contribution to the road traffic amendment bill last year, Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest said an average of 50 traffic fatalities occurred every year since 2006. Mr Turnquest said alcohol plays a huge role in the number of accidents that happen in the Bahamas each year. When the new law is enforced, persons will be considered under the influence of alcohol if they have 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood or 107 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of urine. Anyone caught driving under the influence can be subject to a $3,000 fine, one year imprisonment or both and suspension of the individual's drivers licence for up to one year. This year, Commissioner Greenslade said the police force will: * target persons who operate vehicles at a speed above the speed limit; * focus on motorists who run red lights; * target drivers who drink alcoholic beverages and drive and those who drive under the influence of other stupefying drugs and; * focus on motorists who continue to ignore the laws related to tinted windshields and side windows.