Saint Lucia joined the rest of the world in remembering victims of road traffic accidents last week, under the theme, “Life is not a car part.”

The occasion is an important one as it offers governments and road users the opportunity to advocate that one death or injury resulting from a road traffic accident is one too many. The United Nations through its call to action reminds us that road deaths and injuries can be sudden, violent and traumatic events, the impact of which is long lasting often permanent.

Minister for Economic Development, Housing, Urban Renewal, Transport and Civil Aviation Hon. Guy Joseph said Saint Lucia has heeded to the call by the UN to reduce on such accidents by 2020 but it is not enough.

The minister said that like many low and middle-income countries, Saint Lucia’s transport system continues to face challenges including infrastructure, vehicle and road worthiness and the need to improve road user behavior through education, better enforcement and an increase in awareness of the penalty for negative behavior.

The Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation encouraged the public to join the families impacted in remembering the road fatality victims by wearing purple during the week of November 18 to 24.