It's the United Nations global road safety week and today the Ministry of Transport organized a forum to devise a comprehensive multi agency strategy to make Belize's roads less deadly. But we wondered how does sitting in a room make slippery roads any safer? And that's just the question we asked.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
On the worst days, this are what Belize's roads look like...tires that don't hold on slippery roads, drivers not seat-belted, or not paying attention or not sober - and human lives - about 80 a year -wasted on the roadways. And while its dangerous on the roads - today it was all safe inside a conference room at the Princess. So what do over a hundred experts in law enforcement, civil safety, policy making and the insurance industry have to do with the daily carnage on the road?
Hon. Jose Coye,
"We were able to bring more of the community together, even at the Ministerial level we have been able to bring a greater consciousness to the other Ministries who should be more involved indeed in this whole road safety issue and we have been able to bring together others outside the public sector to participate."
And that's why representatives form four Ministries: Works, Home Affairs, Transport, Health and Education signed a memorandum of understanding today, to embark on a course of concerted action. And while deaths from road traffic accidents have been declining, statistics show that most fatal accidents occur in the summer months and most are in the Belize district. And one telling statistic is that most of them involve male drivers.
Dr. Paul Edwards, Epidemiologist - Ministry of Health
"Road traffic accidents, when we look at the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Belize, is definitely ranked within the first two and three causes of death here in the country, especially when we look at males within the ages of 22 to 24. It is the number one. We always talk about a male driving more faster than a female and one of our excuses always is that we know the road better. When there is an accident we normally look around and say it has to be a female that is involved. But I think as males we need to look critically at ourselves."
And according to the Commissioner of Transport that means everyone - not just men - have to look at their behavior - not just what's on the road.
Michael Godoy, Commissioner of Transport
"We know that there's not just one single answer. If you listen to what the Minister of Health, Transport, Communications, Local Government said, it has to do with our habits, it has to do with our behavior and I believe that is the area where a lot of the work has to be done, trying to see if we can have people change the lifestyle behavior."
And while road signage and safety conditions generally need to improve - these folks believe that until you behavior changes, we'll continue to see about 80 of these a year.
Today's event was just part of a week long observance highlighting road traffic safety. Tomorrow is headlamp day and flyers will also be distributed. There will also be media appearances.
