New drivers warned of road dangers

(CNS): With what police have described as a disproportionate amount of motor vehicle smashes on the Cayman Islands’ roads a government campaign to promote safe driving went into the classroom recently to deliver the message to young new license holders. Streetskill’s Levi Allen pointed out to the novice drivers that, “getting your driver’s license doesn’t mean you can drive well.” Delivering several road safety messages, Allen, who is also Public Work’s Training, Development and Safety Officer and serves on the National Road Safety Strategy team, told students about defensive driving techniques. (Photo Dennie Warren)

In the classroom session he covered areas such as risk taking, driving with peers as Passengers, being on the road late at night, and using phones while driving.

“Young drivers are particularly susceptible to traffic accidents as they generally lack the experience to respond to different situations,” Allen said. “Knowing the road code is one thing, but applying the rules to a changing road environment requires skills, knowledge, extensive practice and an understanding of how you, as young drivers, respond to pressures and distractions.”

National Roads Authority (NRA)’s Streetskill representative Marion Pandohie also told the driving students how to safely use Cayman’s roundabouts and Chief Inspector Angelique Howell of the RCIPSwho has voiced here concerns frequently about standards of driving pointed out that four people have already been killed on the roads this year. This she said has prompted police to ramp up our public education efforts.
“The rate of road accidents and deaths in Cayman is simply unacceptable, which is why we need to focus on prevention and education,” Howell added.

Streetskill is the public education campaign of the new multi-agency Cayman Islands National Road Safety Strategy which aims to reduce road fatalities and injuries. Members are Public Works, NRA, the RCIPS, Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing and the Cayman Islands Road Safety Advisory Council.

“We want everyone to take individual responsibility for road safety. Our call to action is simple: Don’t wait for disaster to happen. Talk to your family, friends and children about driving for life,” Allen said.

For more information on the campaign and to download road safety information go to www.gis.ky/streetskills