Aruba, How About Some Defensive Driving Classes? Fourth Traffic Fatality in One Week

Safety on vacation. Now vacationers have to worry about the care-free, no responsibility attitude of life in the fast lane on Aruban roads. 17 deaths in 2007 already? Seems like a pretty high amount when factoring the number of actual drivers. Can people just take some responsibility when they are behind the wheel?

What is happening on the roads in Aruba? They now have had 4 traffic fatalities in one week. In 2007 Aruba has already had 17 traffic deaths as compared to 14 deaths in traffic in 2006. Such news really makes one want to rent a car if one actually decides to go on vacation to Aruba.

This is just another aspect of safety issues that seem to get glossed over. One would think that you would always need to educate drivers as to the rules of the road, not just when traffic fatalities go through the roof.

“We need to educate the road-users to change their driving behavior and enter cooperation with other organizations.”

Spokesperson John Larmonie warned the public again this morning to make sure that there will not be more casualties in traffic, not to speed, and to comply with the right-of-way rules.”

Amigoe; October 29, 2007: Fourth death in traffic within one week

A 37-year old man died in a frontal collision near Malmok on Sunday. 

ORANJESTAD – There was another death in traffic yesterday.  The 37-year old Fausto Arends died of his injuries after a head-on collision with an oncoming car.  Arends is the fourth death in traffic within one week and the 17th this year, three more than last year.  

The accident took place on the Malmokweg at about 13:30.  Arends drove in the direction of the hotels, decided to pass the car in front of him, and did not see the oncoming car and they collided.    Four persons were injured and an ambulance rushed them to the hospital, where Arends soon died of his injuries.  The Public prosecutor took possession of the body for further investigation.  

Compared to 14 deaths in traffic in 2006, this year there are 17 until now.  One of the police corps’ priorities this year is to drive back the number of deaths in traffic.  During the presentation of the police’s annual figures, Chief Peter de Witte predicted a higher number of deaths, if the road-users do not change their driving behavior.  He also said at that time that the police could not do this alone.  “We need to educate the road-users to change their driving behavior and enter cooperation with other organizations.”

The number of traffic surveillance increased this year and the police imposed almost 300 fines in the past two months.  Spokesperson John Larmonie warned the public again this morning to make sure that there will not be more casualties in traffic, not to speed, and to comply with the right-of-way rules.”