No Helmets, No Safety: Dangerous School Runs Exposed

Last week, we showed you a risky routine playing out daily outside schools, children riding on motorcycles, often without helmets, as parents rush to beat the afternoon traffic. The story struck a nerve, drawing concern from viewers, educators, and safety advocates who say it’s becoming all too common and dangerous. Now, veteran traffic advocate Philip “Fawda” Henry is sounding the alarm, calling for tougher enforcement and possibly new laws before tragedy strikes.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

Every afternoon, just outside Belize City schools, the same dangerous scene plays out repeatedly. Small children balancing on motorcycles, squeezed between adults, school bags hanging off handlebars, and in many cases, no helmets in sight. It is a reality that traffic safety advocate Philip “Fawda” Henry says has become one of the most troubling issues on Belize’s streets today.

 

Philip “Fawda” Henry, Pedestrian Crossing School Safety

“So the motorcycle for one, who we see speeding around the city and have a lot of children, picking up children from school and parents are sending run man for their children at school. You are sentencing your children to death when you are sending these motorcycle drivers all over the place to pick up your child at the age of seven- and eight-year-old, and these guys are speeding and overtaking cars.”

 

For more than two decades, Henry has spent his time visiting schools across Belize City teaching children how to safely navigate traffic and practice proper pedestrian safety.

 

Philip “Fawda” Henry

“What if you have your child that goes to school and Mr. Henry says, “You are not supposed to be riding cycle from the age of six up to nine.” And your parents said, “Listen, get on the motorcycle.” Then they are the one to blame. Most parents out here who doesn’t want their children to do the right thing are sentencing their children to death.”

 

And concern over the issue is not only coming from road safety advocates. Schools themselves are also grappling with the danger. We visited Holy Redeemer Primary School, where administrators told News Five that the issue remains one of grave concern for the institution.…especially after a September third, twenty twenty-four incident that left one of their students seriously injured while being picked up on a motorcycle by his father. Since then, administrators say they have repeatedly stressed to parents the importance of ensuring children are picked up safely and transported properly. Still, every afternoon, motorcycles carrying multiple children continue to line the streets outside schools across the city.

 

Henry believes enforcement officers need to crack down harder on unsafe practices and says Belize may even need stronger legislation specifically aimed at protecting children being transported on motorcycles, especially by runman services.

 

Philip “Fawda” Henry

“I do believe that the transport department need to get themselves together and the CEO and also the minister need to get down to the books and let us implement some rules and regulation to bring these people to justice. Because these people are not only putting your child and my child in the danger of the open roads and the traffic to- of today, they are also doing it to their own children.”

 

For hundreds of parents, motorcycles are affordable and convenient, but should convenience come at the expense of a child’s safety. Is it time for more strict regulations? Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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