By Mark R. Cobin

When I was approached by Dr. Samuel Joseph of the Latin America and Caribbean Road Danger Reduction Forum about undertaking this piece of work I felt it was important that I gave some of my time back to the Caribbean and in particular to this important issue of road safety.

Whilst I have lived and worked in the United Kingdom for over a decade, the Caribbean is never far away from my mind. Even closer is the subject of road safety, as I understand first hand the devastation that can be caused by road traffic injuries and deaths in one’s family. Being safe on the roads as we undertake our everyday duties and activities is the responsibility of all of us. The small economies of the Caribbean are not able to invest high levels of capital into resolving many of the problems that exist. There are competing demands from all sections of society and in many cases road safety can sometimes be seen as a low level priority.

The Role of the Crash Investigator in Reducing Traffic Collisions

By Kenute Hare
Director, Road Safety
Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing Jamaica

The role of the Crash Investigator is very important in any sustained effort to stem the tide of traffic crashes that presently affect the socio-economic fabric of societies. Ever since the invention of the motor vehicle, mankind has been grappling with the negative effects of traffic crashes. It therefore means that in order for mankind to seriously address the contemporary traffic safety issues, the role of the Crash Investigator is going to be of serious concern, especially in order to address the 1.5 million persons who are being killed in the traffic environment on an annual basis.

Road Safety and the Caribbean Mini Bus Culture: Taming a Monster

By By Eric Kipps,

Road Safety Consultant

“A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transport.”, said Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia. A very profound statement in the context of public transport. This is just another dissimilarity between developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. In our region the opposite holds true. Here the rich have cars and the poor take public transport.

From Jamaica in the north to Suriname in the south, countries in the Caribbean share a common threat to their safety. I make particular reference to the public transport system provided by the Mini bus. They are referred to by many different names in different countries like the Maxi Taxi in Trinidad, Robots in Jamaica, the ZR’s in Barbados or just Bus/Van in some islands. These names describe the most common mode of transport in the region. This however is not just a Caribbean thing but a low income country transport situation.

Darryl Gaines

Master Trainer, National Safety Council, USA

Presentation: Understanding the Issue; Identifying Solutions

Kerry-Ann  Hamilton

Clinical Social Worker, Ministry of Health

Presentation: The Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on Road Safety in St. Vincent and the Grenadine

Dr. Rosmond Adams MD, MSc., FRSPH

Public Health Specialist & National Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment

Presentation: The Effect of Road Traffic Accidents on the Health Care System in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force

Presentation: Law Enforcement and Road Safety

Mr. Fidel Taylor

Managing Director, Sentry Insurances

Presentation: Initiative to launch Defensive Driving Program In St.Vincent and the Grenadines

Renée Deane-Gangapersad

Tourism Specialist, Trinidad and Tobago

Presentation: The Implications of Ignoring Tourist Safety for the Region

Lenita Joseph

Chief Transport officer, Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport, St. Lucia

Presentation: Understanding the Problem; Identifying the Solution

Mr.Kirt Bowen

Assistant Professor, Kingsborough Community College., PBrooklyn, New York

Presentation: Emergency Response and Management of the Injured at the Crash Scene

Darryl Gaines

Defensive Driving Master Trainer, National Safety Council, USA

Presentation: Alive at 25

Raymond Tawjoeram

Managing Director, Caribbean Heavy Equipment, Educational Centre, Suriname 

Presentation: Heavy Equipment Operator Safety

Terrance Fletcher

Caribbean Road Safety Association, Guyana

Presentation: Road Safety: “The Lowest Hanging Fruit”

Eric Kipps

Managing Director, Jaric St. Vincent Ltd.

Presentation: Occupant Protection Systems Save Lives