Glasgow – Vehicular accidents down because of officers’ vigilance

Members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) Traffic Department have been highly commended for their efforts in assisting with the reduction in road fatalities and accidents here.{{more}}

Inspector Calvin Glasgow of the Traffic Department on Wednesday, April 4, during the SOL Road Safety Programme held at the Sunset Shores conference room applauded the efforts of his colleagues.

Glasgow said it was the vigilance of the officers which contributed to the reduction in reported vehicular accidents and road fatalities during 2009-2012.

In his report, Glasgow said between 2009 and 2011, the figures for new registered vehicles increased, but reported accidents were reduced by the hundreds.

“A good sign for our drivers,” Glasgow said.

The Inspector’s report revealed that in 2009, there were 2,607 new registered vehicles. During that same year there were 1,218 new registered drivers and 1,029 motor vehicle accidents reported.

“Out of that, we had 159 accidents with injuries, 861 without injuries and 9 road fatalities for that year,” Glasgow revealed.

In 2010, there was an increase in the number of new registered vehicles with a total of 2,692.

That same year, however, saw a decrease in reported vehicle accidents to 828. One hundred and forty-eight of those reported accidents included injuries and 676 were without injuries, while there were 4 road fatalities for that year.

The report also showed that there were 1,010 new registered drivers for 2010 as well.

However, during 2011, there were 799 reported accidents, “a decrease again from 2009 and 2010,” Glasgow added.

According to the Inspector’s report, in that year, 176 reported accidents were with injuries and 619 without injuries.

There were four road fatalities in 2011.

“During 2011 there were a total of 2,946 new registered vehicles in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and for that same year 1,242 new registered drivers,” Glasgow further noted.

Meanwhile, as of April, 4 2012, there are 173 reported accidents, along with 822 new registered vehicles on the road.

Glasgow noted that 33 of those reported accidents this year involved injuries and 138 without. There are two reported road fatalities to date.

“We have seen in some instances a decrease in the fatalities and the accidents as well… these come about because of the vigilance of the Traffic Department who would go about to other districts to ensure that even at nights, when some of you folks are sleeping, we are on the streets ensuring that persons drive safely, in order to minimize the amount of accidents and fatalities in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” he stated.

As at April 4, 2012, Inspector Glasgow informed that there are 27,380 registered vehicles in St Vincent and the Grenadines.(AA)