BRSA new executive to focus on changing mindset of road users

Former police officer Roland Lowe is the new president of the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) and he is on a mission to help change the negative behaviours and attitudes of road users.

Lowe and other members of the executive committee were introduced to the media on Thursday, during a press conference at Cooperators General Insurance, Upper Collymore Rock, St Michael.

Delivering his first address as president, he said some road users can be lawless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, and rude and the BRSA would be working to change this. He contended that just as Barbadians are known to be among the friendliest people in the world, they should also be the safest drivers who are courteous, thoughtful, considerate, and law-abiding.

“Today, I want to say that one of my main priorities as the president of this association will be a focus on education and mindset change. So that we all take the time to think about our choices and actions on the roads, not in hindsight but before making such choices and actions,” said the BRSA head who was trained in safety driving tactics as a police officer and holds a degree in sociology and criminology.

Lowe, who was a victim in a road accident, added: “Suffice to say, I have a view of road safety and road use that is informed from varying perspectives. I have a five-year-old daughter, Alyssa and whenever she gets in the car, without a word from me she is buckled and ready to go. Just as it is for her, I want road safety and the practice of road safety to become second nature to all road users, to the extent that it becomes automatic, like breathing.”

He said the new executive committee intended to cultivate a culture of safety and bring about a paradigm shift so that the roads become safer for all users.

The president said he believes he has a great team with the necessary skills and passion to accomplish his objectives.

The association’s first vice president is Maria Holder-Small, the second vice president is Livingstone Headley, the public relations officer is Erskine Cumberbatch, and the treasurer is Dwight Mapp.

“We will hit the ground running, formulating strategies to tackle the issues relative to road safety in our country,” Lowe said.

Lowe also explained that he intended to spearhead facilitating research on road usage in Barbados to give the BRSA a better understanding of how to approach training and campaigning initiatives.

“One of my ideas is to have a nationwide, if possible, study where we seek to find out what are the main issues that drivers are facing – relative to the rules of the roads, adhering to those rules – and also concerns relative to the use of the roads, whether it be roundabouts, signage, whatever the case may be,” he said.

“I have already contacted a former colleague of mine who is in a senior management position at the University of the West Indies and he has experience conducting research. That is one of the first things that we want to do because we don’t want to go out there swinging wildly. We want to identify the issues, hone in on those issues, and then formulate strategies to tackle those issues. And that information, too, will be used in the future to formulate a teaching course.”

He also disclosed that the BRSA will be seeking to boost its membership from the current 70. To attract more people to the association, the $25 membership fee will be replaced with a $5 registration fee.

“So, persons who paid their membership fees before can now sponsor additional persons. If you paid $25 for membership, you can then use that extra $20 to sponsor four additional persons. And if you paid $20 as a senior member, you can use the additional $15 to sponsor an additional three members,” Lowe explained. (AH)

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