Public awareness campaign
for new traffic regulations
PHILIPSBURG--Government Information Services (GIS) will spearhead a public awareness campaign to enlighten the community about the new traffic rules which goes into effect on Wednesday, August 1.
GIS is busy preparing material for the campaign which will include newspaper ads, radio and television interviews and bulleting board notices, Transportation Commissioner Louie Laveist told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. The campaign should start by next week.
When the new regulations take effect, all motorists on the island will have to buckle up while behind the wheel; would only be able to use hands free mobile phone devices and will have to ensure that their children are safely secured in a child seat.
It will also be mandatory for vehicles to stop at marked pedestrian crossings to give pedestrians right of way and riders of quads and three wheelers will be “strongly advised” to wear helmets “for their own safety.”
These measures are part of the amended traffic ordinance which was amended several months ago.
Penalties for breaching the regulations are already stipulated in an ordinance.
The Commissioner had said earlier that motorists and motorbike riders should start adhering to the regulations from now.
He had said too that more than 1.2 million people are killed on roads worldwide every year and up to 50 million more are injured, (many because they weren’t wearing their seatbelts).
Laveist had said too that the relevant stakeholders will have to make preparations to ensure the smooth implementation of the regulations. “For example, car rental companies will have to ensure that they have child restraint safety seats for their clientele who have children. Wholesalers and suppliers of child safety seats and helmets should take note to start preparing to have an adequate supply of the aforementioned in stock,” he had said at an earlier press conference.
“Child restraint safety seats will have to comply with international standards bearing the internationally established quality mark. The regulation of the quality standard will also come into effect as per August 1. Cell phone providers should make sure they have an adequate supply of hands-free devices that cell phone users can purchase. Persons have adequate time now to prepare themselves for the regulations.”
Regarding seat belts, the traffic ordinance stipulates that old vehicles with a manufacturing date of 1986 and after must have front seat belts, while those manufactured in 1994 and after must have safety belts in the front and back seats of the vehicle.
