Political party supporters urged not to hang from motor vehicles

 

The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) is urging political party supporters to desist from hanging from motor vehicles during the period leading up to the general election on September 3.

 

ITA's Corporate Communications and Public Relations Manager, Dontae Matthews, says he has observed people on the roof of vehicles hanging out of windows and travelling in buses with the doors left open.

 

"We have noticed an issue with the body protruding. So we are talking about the hands, the feet, the head, you know body parts hanging out of the vehicle, and that practice of body protruding can cause problems for the occupants of the vehicle. So we are talking about them falling out into the path of uncoming traffic, hurting themselves, and not only that, but the practice poses a risk for the driver. So the driver's line of sight is blocked. And when the vehicle is overcrowded then that poses a risk also because the driver cannot see in the rear view mirror," he explained.

 

He urged road users "whether you drive, you ride, you walk, to just be extra cautious during this period and look out for each other on the road".

 

Mr. Matthews pointed out that during the two week period preceding the 2020 general election 28 people died in road crashes. This, he said, was 7% of the overall fatalities for that year. 

 

He also pointed out that over the last five elections 85 people died in crashes during the two weeks prior to each poll. 

 

Acknowledging that political rallies draw large crowds, Mr. Matthews implored motorists to observe speed limits and navigate carefully through congested areas.