Ascension : ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 22.09.2005 (Article Archived on 06.10.2005)

The numbers of Road Traffic Accidents that are occurring are a cause for concern; it would appear that a weekend cannot go by without an accident;

The numbers of Road Traffic Accidents that are occurring are a cause for concern; it would appear that a weekend cannot go by without an accident; the main contributing factors for these accidents appear to be Alcohol, Speed, and Mechanical Defects. 
To ensure the publics safety, and to reduce the number of accidents, the Police on the weekend of 9^th and 10^th September used their power under the Road Traffic (Ascension) Ordinance to Stop and Test, Brakes, Steering and Exhaust.
These stop and test checks gave the Police the opportunity to check vehicles and drivers and ensured that the vehicles stopped were safe to be driven and that the drivers were fit to drive.
From these checks, no vehicles were found to be unsafe, however minor construction and use offences were identified which the drivers were notified of and informed to rectify.  From the Drivers and Vehicle documents checks it was revealed that a vehicle did not have a valid road license. 
The Road Safety strategy was a success and will not be a one off as we plan to continue them on a regular basis.  It was pleasing as the result of our strategy that vehicles were been driven within the speed limits, and that more people were been bus to the various areas of the island, also that several vehicles were left overnight in the parking area of clubs and bars.  Most importantly, and ultimately we achieved our goal as there were no reports of Road Traffic Accidents.
This initiative has the full support of the Administrator and the public in general; there has been too many road traffic accidents, we would like to thank those motorists we stopped for their co-operation.  The vehicle checks only takes a few minutes, it is an inconvenience, but an accident can occur in less time than it takes to complete our checks.  Ask a victim of a road traffic accident which they choose, a vehicle been stopped and driver inconvenienced or to be involved in a road traffic accident and having to endure the resulting trauma and suffering.
Please ensure your vehicle is in a road worthy condition, and all relevant documentation (licences and insurance) are valid.  Adhere to the Speed Limits, remember even though the maximum speed limit on are roads are 40 mph, it doesn’t mean that you can drive at the maximum, you will need to regulate your speed to the conditions of the road, if you are going to have a alcoholic drink, don’t drive, even a small amount of alcohol can effect your reactions and concentration.
Ag Inspector Jonathan Thomas