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Contact:
Primus
Hutchinson
 Friday,
October 24, 2003 – School Children island-wide are being provided with what
has been described as better safety measures around their school zones. This is
an initiative of the Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport and Public
Utilities, which has commenced the installation of traffic flashers in a number
of school zones around the island. The presence of traffic flashers serves to
warn motorists and pedestrians, that they need to exercise greater than normal
caution within these special zones.
Driving Examiner with the Ministry of Communications and Works, Martin Joseph
says, the traffic flashers will also help to improve the level of safety in
these zones. According to Joseph, the safety of school children and pedestrians
generally, are greater at risk due to uncaring and reckless motorists on the
island’s public roads.
“So obviously, they need to exercise a lot of caution here and one of the things
they need to do is to reduce their speed. Twenty miles an hour should be the
maximum speed you should use here, but remember it may not even be safe to do
that at times,” Joseph said.
However, Joseph sounded a word of caution for pedestrians, particularly school
children, to always exercise caution when using the roads. Joseph noted that
parents should instil a strong sense of discipline in their children, teaching
them to walk in a single file and to avoid reckless behaviour while on the road.
he indicated that the Ministry’s defensive driving programme also helps to
educate people about proper road safety practices.
The traffic flashers are being installed in school zones, especially those
located along the highways. According to Ministry Officials, to increase the
cost effectiveness of the project, Solar Powered Lights which requires less
maintenance have been installed in those zones. Such lights can store power up
to six days without direct sunlight and will be in operation between 6.00am to
6.00pm during school days.
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