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‘Your life matters!’ Premier Fahie tells scooter riders

- said Territory seeing increase in scooter accidents
A damaged motor scooter following an accident in Baughers Bay on Sunday, June 21, 2020. Photo: Team of Reporters
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has called on scooter riders in the Virgin Islands to comply with the road safety guidelines because their lives matter. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has called on scooter riders in the Virgin Islands to comply with the road safety guidelines because their lives matter. Photo: VINO/File
There have been more than 60 accidents involving motor scooters for the year, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) said during a live forum on Facebook on June 10, 2020. Photo: VINO/File
There have been more than 60 accidents involving motor scooters for the year, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) said during a live forum on Facebook on June 10, 2020. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has called on scooter riders in the Virgin Islands to comply with the road safety guidelines because their lives matter.

“We are seeing an increase in scooter accidents, and riders are not wearing safety gears and riding safely on the road. I am urging scooter riders to practice safety on the Territory’s roads,” Premier Fahie said in a statement on June 24, 2020.

He said those riders should: “remember these: You must ensure that you have a scooter licence, ensure that your motorbikes are licensed, always wear a helmet, know your scooter’s limits, watch your speed, keep your distance from other vehicles, use both brakes, avoid blind spots, always use signals.”

There have been more than 60 accidents involving motor scooters for the year, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) said during a live forum on Facebook on June 10, 2020.

He said as of June 10, 2020, there were already some 66 accidents involving motor scooters and that there were some 107 accidents involving motor scooters in 2019.

Important for the future of VI

In the meantime, the Premier said, protecting the Territory’s future generation is a collective responsibility.

“Remember safe riding save lives. Your Life Matters! Together, let us prevent serious injuries or death. Our young generation is important to the future of this Territory. So, let us continue to work in the oneness of purpose. Let us stay informed and remain laser-focused. Each of us has a role to play to help our economy and to keep us safe, whether it be from COVID-19, on the road, or with an economic response. We are in this together, and together we will stay the course,” he remarked.

Scooter ban

For a three-week period, which comes to an end today, June 25, 2020, Premier Fahie said the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands “approved the making of Regulation by the Minister in accordance Road Traffic Act, (CAP. 218), Section 56 to restrict the movement of three-wheel or less vehicles, which includes motorbikes and scooters, from 5:00, am to 5:00 pm.”

The move was done for the safety of the general public, Premier said.

While some sections of society have welcomed the temporary ban; however, others lashed out against the government’s decision.

25 Responses to “‘Your life matters!’ Premier Fahie tells scooter riders”

  • Geez (25/06/2020, 07:33) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    The ones from down the island too?
  • trrefdrfds (25/06/2020, 07:34) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    All this back and forth holding forums and meetings nothing will change. Biker boys will continue acting a nuisance in the place.
  • Iris (25/06/2020, 07:34) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Gumption done say no more to find me page
  • Listen (25/06/2020, 07:35) Like (19) Dislike (8) Reply
    Just do not legalize big bike hon Rhymer.
  • Agree (25/06/2020, 07:36) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Agree them bike shows that shemba Frett boy be throwing needs to come to a end
  • TruDat! (25/06/2020, 07:37) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    On track for 132 accidents in the year, a significant increase over last years 107. But, the bigger story is that we were locked down for weeks and weeks and are still having more accidents. There is certainly a problem here. The Government is right to intervene.
  • Cindy (25/06/2020, 07:37) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Don’t forget Cordell too a next nuisance
  • resident (25/06/2020, 07:38) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    We need enforcement here because there’s none think they could’ve been on the highways in America doing the most, wheeling and skinning out in traffic. We need enforcement
    • small island (25/06/2020, 09:06) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am particularly concerned for the young children riding with an adult. This has been witnessed by me too many times. No helmet on either rider and no eye protection. The police need to be ever vigilant for the sake of the innocent.
  • Scared (25/06/2020, 07:38) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nothing will change
  • To Parents (25/06/2020, 07:39) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    Theirs slot of underage school boys on these scooters and them parents fraid a them.
  • Karen (25/06/2020, 07:41) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
    Let them continue “ BLACK LIVES DO NOT MATTER”
  • Social Darwinism (25/06/2020, 07:49) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let the riders who dont obey the law take themselves out of the gene pool.
  • Today? (25/06/2020, 08:03) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I thought the ban ended long time, because i saw a whole heep of scooters on the beef island stretch minutes to 7pm yesterday.
    They wouldn’t even let you pass to continue going Trellis Bay, as though they owned the road. Smh
    • See (25/06/2020, 10:45) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      Almost a daily gathering of the little thugs . Racing and trying to force people off the road by the airport. Police are too afraid to do anything. We need outside help and certainly a new COP who is a useless suit. Bring in some police from Bermuda like after Irma . They could not believe how the police did not act here. If you want something to stop you need enforcement ..
  • NezRez (25/06/2020, 08:38) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    You don't need a ban on scooters, you need to make the police enforce the rules. Why are the police not making them adhere to the same rules as cars and trucks? I have seen lazy uncaring police allow scooter riders pass them, with none of the required gear on. There doesn't have to be a chase, The police are supposed to have their cameras ready, so if the scooter takes off, the police are supposed to take a picture of the scooter and rider and then follow up with DMV, but the police are not doing anything at all. When a scooter collides with someones vehicle, it is not just the scooter rider affected. The automobile driver is physically and mentally shaken, they have to have their vehicles fixed from the scooter impact, they have to also make a police report and then go to their insurance company to file a report. These careless scooter drivers have been frightening vehicle drivers for years, cutting in front of us, passing 2 or 3 cars from behind scaring us to death, going through red lights, weaving in and out of cars, no helmets, some with no plate. These are things I have witnessed myself, so it is not hearsay.
  • Ghost (25/06/2020, 09:18) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon.Premier I applaud you for being a man of the people.. you are a Caring Premier and God Bless you for your efforts..Regarding there bike/bikers, Strict Laws “Must” be put in place and Adhered to and enforced. Some of our officers as too laid back..I am not saying you cannot give a biker a warning at times but the laws have to be adhered to.. and as you can see with the smaller bikes all of these accidents; how can we ever entertain the idea of bringing in bigger bikes..We keep saying our youngsters are whom will carry our BVI forward but If they’re dead or in jail who will?... there’s the Wise, the Simple-Minded And the foolish.. Proverbs 1:20 “Wisdom crieth in the streets“..those who don’t listen to wisdom of us all saying the same thing; when calamity such as injury or death Happen, they will then wish they had listened.. but would be too late for the latter..
  • Twitter (25/06/2020, 09:45) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Cordell want be like Pookie bad
  • The TRUTH (25/06/2020, 09:51) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    A hard head makes a soft ass. They'll be aight...or not.
  • Windy (25/06/2020, 10:57) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The lawless scooter riders don’t respect anybody or anything including their own lives. Raise the minimum age to 21 for a cycle license or just ban them altogether. Let them kill them selves off.
  • H (25/06/2020, 16:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    As far as i see those scoter riders have no respect for no one it's monkey see monkey do i am keeping far from them
  • urging? (25/06/2020, 16:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    You urge them to wear helmets etc?????????? How about ENFORCING the laws on these death traps?
  • y (25/06/2020, 17:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Then scoter riders is something else that could hear some one had a acedent still u hear them on the road like jet plane
  • T (25/06/2020, 17:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    D thing about it where thay are going with such a high speed I can't tell you it makes no sense
  • Greg (25/06/2020, 19:47) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    OK East End Police, In Josiah's Bay, every day there is a young boy speeding his scooter up and down the road joy riding, making a tremendous amount of noise from right across from my house a little past the well, all the way down to Josiah's Bay beach. Gunning his engine, kicking up smoke and flying up and down about 20 or more times. This just started recently. It is nerve wracking. I don't know where he comes from, but he is very disrespectful to our community. He only stops right before dusk. If you are serious about things changing, he is easy to catch. Scooters are not supposed to make the residents life a living HELL! Now there is a ban for 3 weeks and he is laughing his head off because no Police drive down this road regularly. PLEASE STOP THIS FOOL!


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