Although all motorists and their passengers are being urged to buckle-up as the government makes ready to enforce the 2002 legislation, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin announced Sunday that an additional 30-day grace period has been granted. <\/P><\/p>\n
She said the time will be used by traffic officers to “heighten awareness and give friendly warning” to drivers as to the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a seat-belt. <\/P><\/p>\n
The seat belt laws were passed in January 2002, with the “Appointed Day” for being implemented being July of the same year, but later suspended pending completion of a review of seat belt legislation in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. <\/P><\/p>\n
The Bahamian driving public has had 18 months to become accustomed to wearing seat belts. <\/P><\/p>\n
Under the legislation, the driver of a motor vehicle must ensure that he or she and all passengers are secured by seat belts while the vehicle is in motion. <\/P><\/p>\n
However, Minister Hanna-Martin said with the upcoming enforcement there still remains some difficulties. She said during the review, it was discovered that in a lot of the jurisdictions there was a progressive kind of development toward the use of seat-belts. <\/P><\/p>\n
For example, she said, it started with front seat passengers and, overtime, back seat passengers were also required to wear seat belts. <\/P><\/p>\n
“We in The Bahamas went into the extreme end of safety in terms of the seat-belt law. The problems we are now facing is how do we now go and amend laws to reduce standards,” she said. <\/P><\/p>\n
Minister Hanna-Martin noted that presently consideration is being given to fixed penalties, which will include police officers issuing tickets on the spot to the driver, eliminating a court appearance. At it stands now, every person who is ticketed for seat-belt violation has to go to court. <\/P><\/p>\n
Consideration is also being given to introducing alternative penalties – like community service, defensive driving course, and revocation or suspension of licenses. <\/P><\/p>\n
Presently, fines can range from $1 to $300, she explained. <\/P><\/p>\n
“We are just trying to move away from the fine thing, because we are trying to bring a more educational aspect into the whole idea of it,” Minister Hanna-Martin said. <\/P><\/p>\n
As the law is now enacted no child under the age of five should be in the front seat, but should be placed in a child seat in the back of the vehicle. <\/P><\/p>\n
This again, Minister Hanna-Martin said, raises some problems, as in other jurisdictions they are using weight and not age. <\/P><\/p>\n
“That is something we are looking into – whether that is an appropriate test or criteria in determining who should be in a child seat,” the minister said. <\/P><\/p>\n
Older children must be restrained as well. <\/P><\/p>\n
Another issue is with taxi drivers. Reportedly, they are not happy with the provisions which states that all passengers must wear a seat belt. Minister Hanna-Martin said their complaint is that it will bring about a considerable cost to them. <\/P><\/p>\n
Under the law, omni-bus or jitney service has been excluded. <\/P><\/p>\n
The act makes it mandatory for all vehicles to be fitted with belts. <\/P><\/p>\n
Responsibility for this is placed on vehicle owners. <\/P><\/p>\n
Motor vehicle dealers are required to ensure that all vehicles offered for sale are fitted with seat belts before they are sold to the public. <\/P><\/p>\n
Dealers should not import vehicles without belts, the Road Traffic Department said. It added that if motorists own vehicles that have no belts, they can have them installed for about $50 by dealers and firms that sell car parts. <\/P><\/p>\n
Minister Hanna Martin stressed that the legislation is being driven by the need for heightened road safety, and by the fact that seat belts and child restraint devices save lives. <\/P><\/p>\n
“In the ensuing months that we are working with the police we are seeking to raise awareness of people. I would recommend to all Bahamians that all passengers in the vehicle should be seat-belted over the next 30 days. In the interim we should be making certain recommendations to modify the difficult areas,” she said. <\/P><\/p>\n
By Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian <\/B><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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