Will Motorists be Required to Wear Reflective Gear in Belize?

This weekend’s fatal motorcycle collision was the first to be recorded for the new year. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport is rethinking its road safety strategy after public pushback on mandatory motorcycle training. C.E.O. Chester Williams says new measures are coming, starting with reflective jackets for nighttime riders to cut down on accidents caused by poor visibility. The ministry is also working on stricter helmet regulations to ensure safer travel on highways and in urban areas.

 

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“We’re looking at ensuring that every person who rides a motorcycle, especially at nighttime, that they must wear a reflective jacket. So that is coming. There are other things that we’re looking at as well. That it’s going to enhance the safety of motorcycle riders on the road. And again, I would hope that Belizeans would see it for what it is. It’s not a matter of trying to create more expense for motorcycle riders, but it’s a matter of making sure that they’re safe. Sometimes these riders are on the road and at nighttime and you’re unable to see them. Having a reflective jacket is going to help them tremendously. In terms of them being seen by other motorists while on the road at nighttime. So these are things that we’re certainly looking at. And likewise, we’re also working on the on the standardization of helmet, working in tandem with the Bureau of Standard. This year, again, early this year, we should be coming to the Belizean people and telling you what are the standards that we’re looking at in terms of helmets, because that’s a part of the issue. We might say that for the highways we might require this level of helmet and maybe in cities and towns might be a different, we’ll have to look and see how we can do it in such a way that doesn’t affect people in any kind of way.”