More than 93 persons, including a number of children, have died in traffic accidents already for 2024, and traffic incidents are included, the number is significantly higher. 

Sounding an alarm today, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn warned that more lives could be lost if road users fail to do the right thing.

The Home Affairs Minister estimates that at the current rate, there could be more than 120 road fatalities by the end of 2024 if the necessary precautions are not taken. 

“The total accidents that we have had, there has been actually a decrease in accidents but an increase in deaths. We have had 93 deaths in totality. At the current rate, we may hit 120 deaths by the end of the year,” Minister Benn said. 

Speaking at a press conference this morning, the Home Affairs Minister also explained that his Ministry is well aware of the significant increase in traffic on the country’s gradually expanding roadways. 

According to recent statistics released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, in 2020, there were approximately 1,422 lorries on the country’s roadways, but there are now more than 3,606 lorries registered within the system.

The number of registered minibuses moved from 523 in 2020 to 1,456 in 2023.  The number of cars and pickups has also increased drastically, as is the case with other categories of vehicles.

But Minister Benn said speeding, and driving while under the influence of alcohol remain the primary causes of accidents in the country. 

“Speeding is a particularly important cause based on the police statistics in relation to fatal accidents. We think that drinking and driving underlie speeding. We intend to work with the police, look at changes with emphasis on the legislation and fines and other resorts to bring attention to this problem, and to try to improve and curb behavior,” the Home Affairs Minister said.

Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh said the statistics also reveal that there have increases in damage accidents and minor accidents due to the reckless use of the road. He said all categories of road users are failing to take the necessary precautions, including the use of seatbelts and helmets. 

“The accidents deriving from the figures that we would present to you, it tells you a story that most of them speak to vulnerability, and who, the pedestrian one, and two, a motorcyclist. A lot of the serious or fatal accidents that we have had over the last five to six days, a motorcyclist would have been involved, and when you look at it, a motorcycle represents a motor vehicle, it transports people, and if we can’t use the road with safety to our selves and even others using the same space, we are only looking to be in the next statistics,” the Traffic Chief said. 

Just last July, work started on the implementation of a road safety technology known as the Road Intelligent Camera Enforcement System, which offers 24-hour surveillance.

The system is a road safety technology that provides 24-hour monitoring of intersections for motorists in violation of speeding and seatbelt laws. 

The Government has warned that more laws are coming to curb the reckless use of the roads.

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