Road safety upgrade underway ahead of new term school term

A partnership between Trident Insurance and the Ministry of Transport and Works is targeting pedestrian crossings around several schools and potholes ahead of the start of the new school term.

In its first phase, the initiative will see those pedestrian crossings near Arthur Smith Primary School, Bay Primary, St Michael School, Luther Thorne Primary School and Graydon Sealy Secondary School being repainted. This will be followed by improvements to road infrastructure, including potholes, along Highway 7.

Dr Romel Springer, Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works took a turn painting the crosswalk at Hastings main road.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works Dr Romel Springer described the initiative as an example of what could be achieved when government and the private sector work together.

“Road safety is not simply a responsibility of government; it is a national priority and a shared responsibility,” Dr Springer said.

“Every child walking to school, parent accompanying a child, pedestrian using a crossing and driver travelling on Barbados’ roads has a right to expect a safe road environment,” he stated.

“This is more than paint on a roadway. A clearly marked zebra crossing is a visual message to every motorist that they should slow down, pay attention and give pedestrians the protection that they deserve.”

Several crosswalks are being repainted.

Under the initiative, Trident Insurance is procuring material and equipment, identifying potholes, undertaking patching work and using its communication and social media platforms to promote road safety, he said.

Meanwhile, Springer outlined that his ministry will coordinate with the company where necessary and ensure that the work complements its broader road maintenance and road safety programme.

The minister said the partnership could eventually be expanded to include additional schools and pedestrian crossings, particularly in “high-risk” road locations.

He also identified the potential for private-sector partnerships involving the repainting of road markings, installation of road safety signage, safety improvements around schools, minor drainage repairs and public education campaigns targeting pedestrian and driver behaviour.

“Our objective must be to move from simply repairing roads after problems occur to preventing problems and creating safer roads and road environments from the outset,” Springer said.

He encouraged other businesses and organisations to follow Trident Insurance’s lead, lauding the company for “stepping up and stepping forward” and for its recognition that supporting safer roads “is not only good corporate responsibility but an investment in Barbados itself.”

Springer urged road users to “slow down, pay attention, respect the zebra crossing and protect our children.”

Tawania Hinds‑Elcock, marketing and external affairs manager for the ANSA McAL Group of Companies, of which Trident Insurance is a subsidiary, said the insurance company decided to relaunch the project, first undertaken in 2023, as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.

“Trident Insurance, being a good corporate social partner in Barbados, thought that it would be good to relaunch this initiative not just for students who go to the schools, but also for the average person and pedestrians who have to use the road to help enhance road safety on the island.”