Minister responsible for Transport, Stephenson King, has warned that the steady rise in road collisions across Saint Lucia represents more than troubling statistics, describing the situation as a national crisis marked by loss, trauma, and preventable suffering.
Addressing the Parliament of Saint Lucia during the February 3 sitting, King urged lawmakers and the wider public to confront the human reality behind traffic data.
“Behind every road crash statistic lies very real human suffering—lives lost, families forever changed, and communities burdened with grief and trauma,” the Minister said, stressing that traffic collisions must not be viewed as isolated or abstract events but as deeply personal tragedies.
On behalf of the Government of Saint Lucia, King extended condolences to families who have lost loved ones in road accidents, acknowledging that no parliamentary statement could ease their pain.
“No statement made in this Honourable House can lessen your grief or restore what has been taken from you,” he said. “Your loss weighs heavily on us, and it must weigh heavily on our national conscience.”
King emphasized that road safety must be approached as a shared responsibility, cutting across enforcement, education, and personal accountability.
“Road safety is not merely a matter of transport or enforcement. It is a matter of life, loss, and shared responsibility,” he stated, calling for sober reflection and decisive national action.
Presenting data from traffic accident investigations, the Minister revealed a sharp increase in vehicular collisions islandwide. Total collisions rose from 2,239 in 2024 to 2,995 in 2025—an increase of 33.76 percent across all divisions.
The Central Division continued to record the highest number of incidents, accounting for 62 percent of collisions in 2024 and rising to 70 percent in 2025.
King reported that minor and serious collisions increased by 34.4 percent, placing mounting pressure on emergency services, healthcare facilities, and public resources. While fatal collisions declined by 36.36 percent—from 22 in 2024 to 14 in 2025—he cautioned strongly against complacency.
“This is not a reason for celebration,” the Minister said. “Each statistic represents a human life, and even one death on our roads is one too many.”
He further disclosed that two road fatalities have already been recorded for the current year, describing the situation as “wholly unacceptable.”
According to King, the data clearly indicates that existing strategies require strengthening. While enforcement remains critical, he said it cannot stand alone.
“Enforcement alone cannot change behaviour,” he noted, advocating for accountability to be paired with education and public awareness. He called for a balanced and compassionate approach that addresses driver behaviour, strengthens legislation, and supports safer choices by all road users.
As part of these efforts, King announced that the Division of Transport has initiated a comprehensive review of the Motor Vehicular and Road Traffic Act. The review, he explained, aims to modernize the legislation, close enforcement gaps, and ensure penalties and protections align with present-day road conditions, emerging technologies, and evolving traffic patterns.
The Minister clarified that the exercise goes beyond minor amendments and forms part of a broader national road safety programme launched last year.
King also referenced measures adopted by other Caribbean territories grappling with similar challenges. He cited St Kitts as an example, noting the introduction of tougher penalties to deter reckless driving, including fines ranging from $6,000 to $8,000, and up to $20,000 for repeat offenders. Penalties for careless driving and driving under the influence have also been significantly increased in those jurisdictions.
The Minister concluded that meaningful legislative reform, supported by education and consistent enforcement, is essential to reversing the upward trend in road collisions and protecting lives on Saint Lucia’s roads.
