Road Accidents: Severe Penalties Claimed Against Irresponsible Drivers

The emotion was palpable in the gardens of the town hall of Quatre-Bornes, on the morning of Saturday, November 19. Parents of victims of road accidents showed their grief after the death of their loved ones.

Poignant testimony of the parents of Elizabeth Pigeot died in a road accident in Grand Baie in November 2009 . "Elizabeth Pupuce we called was our youngest. She was torn off in a car accident. We are still suffering from his death "said sobbing, the mother of the deceased.

Another highlight: Jacques, the father of a young rugged capita Rampart River has moved the audience by recounting the circumstances of the accident in which his son was a victim in 2010.

"My child was waiting for his bus to go home. He was on the sidewalk, another van was broke. He stayed three months in a coma, now he is paralyzed, blind and no longer speaks. Today I must to the hospital for regular treatments. I have the means. Help me, if you can, " he begged.

The most shocking in this sad case is that it was revealed that the driver was traveling at high speed and was on the phone.

Prior to the start of the ceremony, the President devoted PRAT, Alain Jeannot was in a vigorous speech criticized the irresponsible drivers who show themselves on the roads. "These people who drive under the influence of alcohol and kill innocence are criminals. They must be punished severely, " he exclaimed.

Alain Jeannot also drew attention to the statistics related to accidents. He lamented that Mauritians are driving more and more stressed and discourteous. Individualism and the failure of other drivers lead to reckless behavior, he said. The president of PRAT invited relatives of victims of road accidents to create an association to meet, share stories and make arrangements for victims' rights are respected.  

Me Robin Appayah, treasurer Prat told the audience the legal implications of a traffic accident. He spoke about the rights of victims, recommending what to do in case of damage and injury. The lawyer said that it is a crime not to report an accident in which there is injury. He also lamented that the " Legal aid ", financial support from the state to the poor for legal costs, does not cover accidents.

The psychologist Nicolas Soopramanien, also a member of the Executive Committee of PRAT also addressed the parents of the victims. He called psychological support be given to both victims and responsible for accidents. To this end, he recommended the establishment of a helpline to support families after one of their disoriented was involved in an accident.

The inspector Ramdursee Traffic Branch of the police, in turn, reminded that road safety remains a priority of the police force. He said that the police maintain a vigilance despite a decrease in the number of accidents and road deaths in Mauritius.

Scouts and Guides Curepipe under the responsibility of Annick Petit recalled the duties of pedestrians and set the necessary rules to govern the sharing of public space: the road.

This is the Reverend Eddy Chung Shee, member of the religions that closed the ceremony by inviting audience members to think and to say an ecumenical prayer.