Following my recent article on the need to implement seat belt laws, I have received a couple of useful comments. They point out that we also need to look at related areas such as making child restraints in vehicles mandatory.

Alex Richardson

The first comment is from a long-time resident of Anguilla and businesswoman. She says:

Thank you for your interesting write up on seat belts, however I would be equally delighted to read something about child restraints in a car, and a law passed to stop children on adults laps and in the front seat...under a certain age. A child was nearly killed two weeks ago at shoal bay, again the children were loose when a truck rolled over, after sliding on some spilt paint...God forbid something would have happened to these little souls through negligence of ignorant parents, some.... have to be told how to transport their babies after they have given birth....we warn them about alcohol and smoking...but not about driving and securing...

The second comment is from an American professional who owns a house on the island and visits frequently.

“Alex, excellent article about seat belts, but I would advise to include child restraints as well. [We have] small children, and I own a place in Anguilla and have been visiting since 2000. My wife and I bring our own child restraints and are always disappointed in the lack of child restraints we don’t see in the Anguillan’s vehicles. Perhaps some encouragement from the government could help prevent an injury to a child.”

I would thank to thank these readers for their timely comments. It is hoped that the Attorney General’s Chambers and the legislators will also consider these areas when looking at enacting seat belt laws.

Alex Richardson is Managing Partner of the law firm Alex Richardson & Associates, P O Box 371, The Babrow Building, The Valley, Anguilla, Tel: 264 498 4224, Fax: 264 498 4220, email: arichardson@anguillanet.com. He is also Managing Director of Paragon Corporate Services Ltd.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News