Arrive Alive director Sharon Inglefield said she is disappointed at this year’s road traffic fatality statistics.
This after the T&T Police Service (TTPS) reported a five per cent increase in road traffic fatalities this year, with the two latest occurring over the Christmas weekend.
On Christmas Day around 4.15 pm Kareem Abdul was killed in an accident on the Diego Martin Highway and just after 7.30 am yesterday, pedestrian Kareem Abdul died in a hit-and-run accident at the NP overpass on the Beetham Highway.
Inglefield said: “We have seen more than one adult die in a vehicle due to simple things like not wearing a seatbelt, so it is very disappointing.”
She maintained that enforcement of the law is critical.
“We have been out there in the schools and the communities trying to educate the public on the penalty points system, as well as drinking and driving, defenceless driving, and risk management. We know it is a continuous work in progress but we have been trying our best to encourage drivers to change and transform their behavior for the sake of their loved ones,” she said
She is calling for swifter justice, saying: “We would like to see not just charges being laid but the suspension of drivers’ permits and we would like to see GPS bracelets. We would like to see justice for the families who have lost loved ones and who have injured loved ones, which puts a tremendous financial burden on the families.”
TTPS data shows that in 2022, 93 incidents were reported but that number increased to 98 this year – a five per cent rise.
The TTPS said driver fatalities increased by 20 per cent.
This year there have been 42 incidents compared to 2022 with 35 incidents. Passenger incidents increased by six per cent with a total of 17 incidents compared to 16 last year.