Gradual increase in traffic accidents over three years, but small number of fatalities; so no cause for alarm, Quammie says

Despite a significant number of road accidents this year (2023), the
statistics are not alarming, and only a small number have resulted in
fatalities, says Superintendent of Police Elson Quammie, the head of
the Traffic Department.
 
Comparing the statistics from 2021 to the present, Quammie
acknowledges a slight increase over each year, with the first half of
2023 showing 16 more accidents than the same period in 2022.

The Traffic head also reports that most of the road collisions are
occurring outside the precincts of St. John’s. At times, he says, the
out-stations respond to more accidents than the Traffic Department
does.

According to Quammie, so far this year the district stations have
investigated a combined total of just over 700 collisions, while the
Traffic Department has handled just over 600.
 
 In the meantime, traffic accidents on Barbuda also have been on the
increase over the past three years, Quammie says. Statistics show
that there were about a dozen collisions over that period.
 
In 2023, Quammie says, there have been five accidents, to date, on
the sister-island compared to three last year (2022) and four in
2021.
 
Meanwhile, the Department head says the Police are facing a very
serious challenge regarding the road network. He says it is very
congested and packed to capacity with vehicles.
 
He notes that it has been some time since the Government has
undertaken the building of new roads or road-marking initiatives.
 
Rather, the same road network has existed for several decades,
with some improvements “here and there;” but most of the roads
are not in the best condition, he admits.

Many people believe the condition of the roads has contributed to
several accidents in which drivers travelling at high speed have had
to swerve to avoid potholes.