Prime Minister Philip J Pierre has renewed his call for greater personal responsibility among motorists, following another vehicular collision along the John Compton Highway.
Speaking on March 23, Pierre stressed that adherence to existing traffic laws remains the most critical factor in reducing road fatalities.
“Obey the existing laws. Stop at the major road. Stop at the traffic lights. That is a first responsibility,” he said. “We are condemning everything else except telling people to take personal responsibility for their actions.”
The Prime Minister argued that while collisions may be unavoidable, fatalities are often the result of excessive speed.
“There would have been collisions, there would not have been death,” he stated. “If people were driving at a moderate rate, there would have been collisions, not death. People are driving too fast.”
Pierre expressed strong support for increased enforcement measures, including charges for dangerous driving.
“I am very happy that somebody was charged for dangerous driving,” he said. “The police must start to charge people for dangerous driving. I am fed up with that nonsense.”
He pointed to the dangers of motorists exceeding safe speed limits on roads not designed for high-speed travel.
“Guys are driving at 70 or 80 miles per hour on roads built for 30 or 40. This is foolishness,” Pierre said. “The police must take responsibility. People have to be stopped.”
The Prime Minister insisted that law enforcement must act decisively when dangerous driving leads to serious harm or death.
“When people are guilty, they must be charged for dangerous driving,” he said. “When they cause death, once there is a case, they must begin to charge them.”
Pierre also spoke emotionally about the human cost of reckless driving, citing injuries and long-term suffering experienced by victims and their families.
“I see the pain from these foolish drivers,” he said. “A man is driving with his family, you knock him, you break his leg, he cannot walk again. You maim his child, you maim his wife, they have lost income because of your actions.”
He dismissed attempts to shift blame onto road conditions, maintaining that responsible driving is the key factor.
“Do not talk about lights or potholes. I hear you not,” Pierre said. “Even if there are no lights and you are not driving fast, you will have a collision, but you will not kill anybody.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted the risks associated with unsafe practices such as riding motorcycles without protective gear.
“In my constituency, I see men on crutches because they rode a motorcycle without a helmet,” he noted. “What is causing you not to understand that riding without a helmet is dangerous?”
Pierre concluded by urging motorists to act responsibly at all times, warning that failure to do so continues to result in preventable injuries and loss of life.