Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.
By FARRAH JOHNSON
HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands said the recent trend in traffic fatalities has raised public health concerns regarding how drivers practice road safety.
His comments came hours after a motorcyclist in New Providence died in a traffic accident on Tuesday, bringing to six the number of traffic-related deaths since Friday.
In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Dr Sands said evidence from the last ten years indicates there has been an increase in traffic-accident related injuries, about which all "right-thinking Bahamians" should be concerned.
According to Dr Sands, the rise of injuries recorded during this period includes both serious and minor ones, as well as incidents which led to loss of life.
"Given this reality and the impact on the health system and on the health of patients, we want to remind the public of the evidence that texting or using a telephone while driving is not a good idea. We're concerned about the inconsistent use of seatbelts and especially the challenge with infants not being in the appropriate safety seats," he said.
Dr Sands said the bottom line is when people get involved in serious traffic accidents, they end up in hospitals, clinics, or, in severe cases, the morgue.
He added these factors have "direct implications for the health care system inclusive of emergency medical services".
"From a public health point of view, there are specific challenges about driving under the influence, driving with excessive speed, and now in the era of technology, driving while texting, whatsapping, instagramming, or whatever other utilisation of that thing that people like to have in their hands and it is seldom that you will drive past somebody who is not on their phones," he said.
Tuesday's traffic fatality happened shortly after 5pm on Sutton Street off Kemp Road, involving a white Ford E350 van and a red and black SYM motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, who suffered serious injuries, was taken to hospital, where he later died. The driver of the van, who was not injured, remained at the scene and is assisting police with their investigations.
Comments
DDK 6 years, 4 months ago
Warnings are a waste of time. What is needed are enforced laws! A little effort, ya know?
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 4 months ago
Ignore Sands. He's just trying to deflect and distract our attention away from his incompetence in dealing with so many more important issues. He should be much more worried about all of the Fukushima radioactive material coming to our shores as a result of the continued dumping of contaminated Japanese vehicles in our country.
bogart 6 years, 4 months ago
@joeblow in the past few days ago article wid Health 50m fees Dr Sands ....you mentioned Sands being shuffled to some place like road traffic or antiquities an monuments.....you ggats any numbers dats we can play strait...???
TalRussell 6 years, 4 months ago
Ma Comrades, right owning a vehicle is not a constitutional right!
There are too damn many motor vehicles crammed together with too many irresponsible ohers safety drivers on done much too overpopulated tiny 21 miles long, 7 miles wide capital island colony's and commercial business centre.
Time limit the importation and removal off we streets - not only certain models, and motor sizes but place restrictions to a maximum two vehicles per households by the year end 2019. Also, time change side road we drives on.
Far too many irresponsible drivers are being allowed remain in possession they motor vehicle when they should lose custody for a minimum one to two years.
NO tourist nor visitor should be allowed rent anything other than scooters and bicycles.
Permanently ceased by government vehicles should be crushed and exported off island or in some cases -shipped and offered for sale to less motorized islands of the colony.
sealice 6 years, 4 months ago
the bottom line is the archaic road traffic laws are followed by anyone except really old people and the police force does absoluteley Jacq Squat enforcement of them - of course no one really cares about this (all the arsholes running redlights) so this will continue....
Franklyn 6 years, 4 months ago
Total breakdown of traffic laws and government's responsibility.
After the last "2" hurricanes there has being a change of awareness to the importance of street signage (which is an important part of the legal governing system that regulates traffic laws and safe motoring practices) many of these signs and road markings still lay broken or completely missing.
A few months back my wife was attempting to navigate the back roads through Coconut Grove finding her way to Palmetto Ave. and Acklins St., where there is no stop signs at Acklins St. where there is an almost daily accurance of accidents. To compound the situation at this location, and many more location throughout the Island, the area is over grown making it that much more difficult to discern the need to stop at an up coming intersection.
In my wife's case she was one of the lucky drivers who was fortune enough to walk away from her accident at this intersection, unhurt, due to quick thinking on her part to turn off from the approaching car avoiding a more serious accident where both vehicles may have sustained heavier damages.
This story can be repeated in many areas on the island as the breakdown of road laws has created a law of the jungle where driving becomes a game of chance and many are losing, not only to damaged vehicles but some losing thier lives.
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