Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 30, 2025 (PMO) —The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has taken a bold and necessary step to curb the rising number of road accidents and fatalities with the passage of the Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Speaking in Parliament today, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew underscored the need for urgent action to address reckless driving, emphasizing that road safety is not just a legal issue but a matter of life and death.
“In 2024 alone, we lost 13 lives to road accidents—a truly alarming number. Between 2019 and 2023, 19 lives were lost despite the slowdown in traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that over the past six years, we have lost one life every five months due to road accidents. These deaths are preventable, and as a responsible Government, we cannot sit by while lives continue to be lost.”
The Prime Minister further revealed that 6,526 road accidents were reported in St. Kitts between 2019 and 2023, averaging 1,305 accidents per year—or approximately four accidents every day. The Basseterre area alone accounted for 3,867 reported accidents during this period, an annual average of 773 accidents.
“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding and the use of mobile phones while driving, which are two of the leading causes of road fatalities,” Dr. Drew stated. “We must recognize that driving distracted or driving too fast does not just put the driver at risk, but it endangers passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. We must change our driving culture now before more lives are lost.”
To tackle reckless driving and strengthen enforcement, the Government has introduced a range of new penalties under the amended legislation:
- Fines for reckless and dangerous driving will now range from $6,000 to $8,000, with repeat offenders facing penalties of up to $20,000 and imprisonment.
- Careless driving fines have doubled, reaching $8,000 for causing bodily injury, with repeat offenders facing up to $10,000 and potential imprisonment.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or any substance that impairs judgment will now carry a fine of up to $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for repeat offenses, with longer imprisonment terms.
- Causing death by dangerous driving will now carry a maximum penalty of 10 years, while causing death by careless driving will result in up to six years in prison.
The Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also incorporates new technological solutions to enhance traffic law enforcement:
- Automated ticketing systems will be used to detect and fine speeding drivers, with tickets issued directly via mail.
- A new public reporting system will allow citizens to submit dashcam or video footage of reckless driving. Individuals whose evidence leads to a conviction may receive up to $5,000 in compensation.
- Traffic surveillance cameras will be strategically placed across the country, ensuring that reckless driving is monitored and penalized.
“Some drivers think that if they speed at night, no one will see them,” Dr. Drew remarked. “But with these new systems in place, they will receive a ticket in the mail. I can assure you, once drivers start receiving fines, they will think twice before speeding again.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the goal is zero road fatalities by 2030, aligning with global best practices such as Sweden’s Vision Zero policy, which reduced road deaths by over 50%, and South Korea’s crackdown on drunk driving, which resulted in a significant drop in road accidents.
“Countries around the world have taken decisive legislative action to reduce road fatalities, and we must do the same. Legislation alone is not enough—we need the cooperation of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. This is a national effort. The Government cannot do it alone,” Dr. Drew declared.
As part of this national push for safer roads, the public is encouraged to actively participate by reporting reckless driving, adhering to speed limits, and avoiding distractions such as mobile phones while driving.
“This bill is about saving lives. Let us all commit today to making our roads safer for everyone. Together, we can achieve a culture of responsible driving and ensure that no more families have to endure the heartbreak of losing a loved one due to reckless driving.”
