It’s been over four months since Guardian Media’s photographer Anthony Harris died after being knocked down while cycling around the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, which has a designated lane for cyclists, yet no one has been arrested or charged in connection with his death.
Harris was struck by a motorist on July 9 and sustained severe injuries following which he passed away on July 10 while warded at the Intensive Care Unit at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.
Renewing their call for justice on Sunday as T&T joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Harris’ daughter Charisse choked back the tears as she shared, “We miss his laugh. We miss his larger than life personality. He was embodiment of all things fun.”
She added, “To date, no justice has been served.”
Recalling the accident that had forever altered their lives, she said, “My entire family is still angry and grieving.”
Thanking the organisers of Sunday’s event which took place at the National Cycling Centre, Couva, Cherisse expressed hope that it would be a catalyst for change, which could increase awareness and also act as a vehicle to help grieving families heal.
Lobbying for justice for all accident victims, Arrive Alive president Sharon Inglefield said it was unfair that victim’s families had to wait for months and even years to get justice and closure.
She called for DNA testing to be placed at the forefront of accident investigations.
“I am appealing to the TTPS inspectors today who are here, to please do DNA testing. Let’s advocate for DNA testing for quick justice so we can tie drivers to the ownership of the vehicle, to whoever was hurt, because without DNA testing, it holds back the justice.”
She added, “DNA testing means we know for sure who drove that vehicle during injury and during a fatality.
“We need to have proper forensic crash investigations to decide whether a crime was committed or if the vulnerable road user, the pedestrian or cyclist or motorcyclist, may have been negligent.”
Providing a list of immediate measures which she believes can help to reduce road deaths, Inglefield called for improved road infrastructure; designated cycling lanes along all of the nation’s roads; expedited access to funeral grants for families of persons killed in road accidents; counselling for victim’s families; and amended legislation.
She advised, “We need to close all these gaps in policies, law enforcement, infrastructure. We need to have fines and demerit points against drivers who hit pedestrians and cyclists. We need to include that in our demerit points system…that is still outstanding.”
She called on the authorities to move swiftly and decisively to deal with drivers found with fraudulent licenses; those who were found behind the wheel without a driver’s permit; and those driving without insurance.
“We need to prosecute them as we have too many of them on our roads,” she urged.
And as the recreational and sporting activity continues to grow in popularity, Elsa Lara-Joseph, of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited, added her voice to those before her who called on motorists to be more understanding and vigilant.
Speaking of one of her company’s requirements where employees must be certified in defensive driving, she challenged the authorities to make defensive driving a mandatory requirement for persons to get their licenses.
Inspector Sunil Harrilal of the Central Highway Patrol Unit provided the alarming statistics for road deaths for this year so far.
A total of 79 people have so far been killed on the nation’s roads for 2022, compared to 67 for the same period in 2021, which represented an 18 per cent increase in road fatalities.
Of the 79—30 were drivers; 30 were pedestrians; 14 were passengers; three were motor-cyclists; and two were pedal cyclists.
Harrilal said, “The tragedy of all road traffic accidents lies in the fact that they are preventable in nature, if only someone didn’t drink alcohol, if someone had obeyed the speed limit, or a pedestrian took that proactive measure to utilise the walk-over or cross over instead of trying to run across a six-lane highway.”
A total of 21,313 tickets were issued by the TTPS for 2022 so far, in respect of drivers who failed to wear seatbelts which Harrilal described as, “gambling with their lives.”
Lead co-ordinator, TTPS Road Safety Project, Brent Batson spoke of the inherent risks associated with all categories of road users.
He said following a vehicular accident in Chaguanas on Saturday night as the wrecker was removing the crashed car, a drunk driver ran into the driver who had been standing at the side of the road attending to the vehicle – which had resulted in his both legs being broken.
Batson said, “This is what we are faced with and some people just don’t seem to understand driving risks and how dangerous it is.”
He added, “Every time you reach your destination…say thank you God, Jesus and Mary, because sometimes it seems people don’t seem to understand how fragile human life is and what we take for granted.”
President of TT Cycling Federation, Rowena Williams as more people choose bicycles over cars, it was in everyone’s interest to ensure the protection of this vulnerable group.
She said, “It is easy for a distracted driver to clip a cyclist accidentally or for a speeding car to collide with a cyclist.”
Williams added, “Often when a cyclist gets into an accident, the motorist at fault will most likely get off easily.”
She appealed to cyclists that, “When you get harassed on the road, pull over and report the incident.”
Claiming this was a common problem, she is hopeful that when motorists see more cyclists on the road, they will drive more carefully.
“We also want to encourage persons to ride more. When we think about the increase in fuel prices and the health benefits of cycling, an increase in the number of recreational riders and rides…will be to the benefit of all,” she ended.
