Port of Spain; Arrive Alive was launched on December 2004, with their primary objective being to highlight the importance of safety on our roads. However, with the assistance of Corporate Sponsors, Soca Artiste and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service the collective attention has switched to the problems faced on the Nations roadways.
Arrive Alive is considered a vigilant group that is always campaigning about the importance of protection and preservation of human life. They do not only show interest around the festive seasons although awareness is heightened around that time, but their efforts can be observed throughout the year. In an interview with the Vice President of the organization, Mr. Brent Batson, several of their initiatives, ventures and successes to date were highlighted.
He explained how last year they embarked on a major event in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, in the form of an Essay and Art competition, which ran from April 15 to September 23 the endeavor was very successful in enhancing the awareness of the youth population. This year they have already started to put things in place for the United Nations "Road and Safety week" which is being held in May, along with plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to place safety slogans along the pedestrian walking zones as well as the school crossing zones throughout the country. Also in may, a large conference would be held in Barbados known as the International Road Federation, where they would highlight the importance of road safety in the Caribbean. They are also busy planning for the "World day of Remembrance" for road fatalities in November of this year.
Arrive Alive pays particular attention to the safety and security of motorist and pedestrians alike, and emphasizes that the most effective way to combat the crime situation is through prevention. They believe if effective and efficient laws are put in place it will act as a deterrent for the motorist and will help to reduce the lawless mentality on our roads. To help heighten the awareness and allow motorist to slow down on the roads Batson said they placed crashed cars at strategic points throughout the country in areas such as the Foreshore, Chaguaramas, Chaguanas. San Fernando and Maracas
Mr.Batson said to date the organization has made major headway in the fight against road carnage with the implementation of the seatbelt laws inclusive of child restraint, also the amendments to allow the significant increase in fines for the breach of all traffic offenses. He also spoke about the breathalyzer law that is in effect and how they are working on the implementation of cameras and radar technology to measure speed.
He reflected on the statistics which shows how the amount of road accidents and deaths have decreased significantly.
The last statistic figure recorded in March of this year showed fatal road traffic accidents was 39 as compared to the same time last year which was 34.
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