Carefree Trinis still not buckling up

Although it is against the law for drivers and front seat passengers not to wear seatbelts, a survey conducted by the Romano Foundation at several busy intersections in TT found that 35 percent of drivers do not use them.

Approximately 5,400 cars were checked at City Gate, Beetham Highway and Grand Bazaar corner, Churchill Roosevelt Highway. The research was supervised by director of the Foundation Frank Tull and trauma specialist from Rotterdam, Holland, Jean Lynch, who has over 30 years experience. Lynch is now involved in emergency care in Suriname. In a media release, the Foundation referred to reports from the National Transportation Safety Board in the US which said approximately 10,000 people die every year on the highway because they did not use their seatbelt. Research has shown that driving at a speed of 30 miles per hour is deadly in the event of an accident. The release stated that field officers from the Foundation conducted interviews with drivers in downtown Port-of-Spain about the use of seatbelts. Interviews were taken from almost 200 taxis and private cars.

Seventy percent of this group said using seatbelts is only important for them because it is a traffic rule and to avoid trouble with the police. The Foundation said 55 percent of this group knows that using a seatbelt can save their lives. However, 30 percent do not use them and do not expect any accidents. “In case that happens they believe they can hold on to the steering and nothing will happen.” Six percent believe an airbag will save them and three percent of cars are so old they are not equiped with seatbelts.

The Foundation said medical reports of emergency rooms in the US show that almost 89 percent of accidents on the highway involved people who were not using seatbelts who were severely injured or died. “Going through the front glass can cause a skull fracture, broken neck or even broken bones which leads to paralysed body parts. Your chest against the steer breaks ribs and causes internal bleeding.” It added that lungs collapse and many times people die of irregular heartbeats after they hit the steer. During the research, workers also spotted approximately 478 vehicles with parents allowing their infant to stand in the front or backseat of the vehicle. The Foundation said: “This irresponsible attitude is unacceptable and dangerous. Even if the driver brakes, the child is in major risk of falling and hitting their head on the dashboard or somewhere else inside.”

Tull called for drivers to use their seatbelt because it has saved many lives. “If people love their children, they should buckle them up. Exceeding speed limits and reckless driving is unnecessary” said Tull. He hoped the police, highway patrol and other relevant Government organisations in-crease their activities to help the public understand that using seatbelts are important for their own safety. The Holland-based Romano Foundation is involved in poverty reduction programmes for Caribbean countries, starting in Suriname five years ago. It has been involved in road safety programmes in that island and last month began a weight loss programme in TT offering counselling to obese people. The Foundation has also partnered with the Pan American Health Organisation in two projects related to smoking and health.