Getting the message throughout: Lenny DeSilva and his daughter Bibi chat with police motorcyclists on the unveiling of the Highway Security Council’s marketing campaign, “Altering Minds, Altering Behaviours”, at Metropolis Corridor, Hamilton, firstly of Worldwide Highway Security Week, yesterday, Might 7, 2024 ({Photograph} by Akil Simmons)
Motorists are being urged to alter their driving habits in an effort to rein in accidents and deaths on the roads.
The Bermuda Highway Security Council launched Worldwide Highway Security Week on the island in the present day by unveiling its marketing campaign theme, “Altering Minds, Altering Behaviours”.
An viewers on the steps of Metropolis Corridor in Hamilton heard sobering statistics on the variety of accidents — and fatalities — lately.
Nicole Hart, an emergency doctor at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, has handled site visitors accident victims and has first-hand expertise of the trauma that it will possibly trigger for each the injured and their family
Dr Hart mentioned that 109 individuals have been critically injured in street accidents in 2022, including: “Accidents ranged from a number of damaged bones, lack of limbs, inner accidents, and extreme head accidents, typically leading to long run ache and struggling.
“Think about coming to the emergency division and being advised your relative or buddy has been killed in a street site visitors accident.
“Think about being in an accident and being advised that you’ve got misplaced your leg, or that you’ll by no means stroll once more.
“Think about your relative being struck and killed by an impaired driver.”
Identical hymn sheet: Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, left, with Glen Smith, the managing director of Auto Options, Chief Inspector Arthur Glasford of the Bermuda Police Service, doctor Nicole Hart, and Anthony Santucci of Cada at Metropolis Corridor ({Photograph} by Akil Simmons)
Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, known as the annual occasion “a poignant reminder” of the ripple impact of accidents.
He mentioned: “It’s not simply our personal lives at stake after we drive carelessly. It’s the lives of our family members, our neighbours and mates, and our complete group.
“We should embody the precept of being our brother’s keeper, recognising that our actions on the street lengthen far past ourselves.
“Irresponsible driving isn’t merely a danger, it’s a potential tragedy that may shatter lives and minimize lives quick.
“Extremely, our newspaper too typically carries tales of younger lives misplaced on our roads.
“Irresponsible driving encompasses extra than simply driving beneath the affect, and consists of reckless behaviour, dashing, tailgating, and distractions behind the wheel.
“Vehicles and bikes are technique of transport however they’ll additionally change into incidents of tragedy if we fail to uphold our duties as drivers.
“An accident can happen within the blink of a watch, in mere seconds. The Highway Security Council can’t deal with this downside alone.”
Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, gave an impassioned speech, claiming that he was on a mission “to ignite a spark of change” in driver attitudes.
He mentioned: “Typically we’ve got to talk to the center and soul of every one in every of us and ask ourselves the query — what sort of life will we wish to stay? What sort of legacy will we wish to depart behind?
“Will we wish to be often called individuals who look after one another, who respect the foundations of the street, who worth security and duty?
“Or will we wish to be often called individuals who take pointless dangers, who disrespect the legislation, who endanger ourselves and others? The selection is our and the implications are actual.”
Mr Furbert mentioned examples of poor driving have been evident on the roads each day, including: “This behaviour is alarming. Immediately I stand earlier than you not simply to focus on the grim actuality however to ignite a spark of change inside every of us.”
Mr Furbert identified that circumstances of driving beneath the affect had elevated yearly since 2021, including: “These figures are distressing and the blatant disregard for security is disheartening.
“As a group it’s crucial that we every do our half to stop additional tragedies on our roads.”
Chief Inspector Arthur Glasford of the Bermuda Police Service mentioned that fifty individuals had died on the roads since 2020, and that motorists had been recorded travelling at speeds of 100km/h.
He mentioned: “These numbers are a wake-up name for all of us. Allow us to collectively embrace this 12 months’s theme of fixing minds, altering behaviours.”
Dennis Lister III, the chairman of the RSC, closed the presentation by saying plans to make repeat offenders take a driving course, and for an affiliation selling security of rental scooters to be created.
He mentioned: “The Highway Security Council should lead the cost to lift requirements of driving in Bermuda and these are the steps that have to be taken to attain it.
“In 2024, let’s pledge to interrupt dangerous habits and behaviours. We should change our minds to consider security first, being thoughtful of others and adhering to all street guidelines and indicators.”
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