2010: road accidents rise by 14%

Inspector Bijaye Rambhursy, head of the Road Safety Unit (RSU), believes the main cause was the lack of attentiveness of pedestrians and drivers and added there was a need to educate them as Mauritians have developed a culture of carelessness.

“Pedestrians and motorists are used to being irresponsible since a very young age and there is a growing need to educate them,” said Rambhursy. He added that the RSU has run 166 workshops in 2010 in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, youth clubs and homes to inculcate the notion of good road usage. Main parts of deaths on our roads include youths and elderly. If the approach does not modify, the situation would get worse. “We conduct workshops, seminars and exhibitions especially aimed at young children. Educating them at an early age means lesser road victims and thus is a long term investment for the nation at large,” said Rambhursy.

1,100 accidents were recorded during the New Year celebrations, that is, from January 1 until 3. Out of those figures 800 fines were recorded along the Pailles-Port Louis highway. Some alcohol tests proved positive, however only 14 cases were found to be above the limit accepted by the law which is 23 microgram. The first fatal accident occurred on Saturday when Kistnasamy Gungadoo, aged 54, died in a road accident. On Sunday another person was victim of a road accident at Beau Bassin.

He also mentioned that the road from Pailles to Port Louis has a history of accident with the opening of the third lane.

That is one of the reasons for the installation of the speed cameras in the area and said it was expected to prevent people from speeding, as a result to guarantee road safety. He also urged people to be more careful while driving.