Traffic head backs call for lower speed limits in Antigua and Barbuda

The head of the Antigua and Barbuda Traffic Department has given his support to the Pan American Health Organisation's (PAHO) call for Caribbean countries to lower speed limits.

According to PAHO, 17 countries in the Americas have already set maximum speed limits of less than 50 kilometres per hour.

The organisation has suggested that more countries should follow suit, as doing so would be the key to saving lives.

Superintendent Leonard Cabral said: “Our highest speed is 40 miles [per hour], which is 62km per hour, so I believe that the government of Antigua and Barbuda should follow suit with this initiative.

"This will ease some of the accidents, because most are caused by speeding. Even if the speed limit is 62km, motorists still [exceed] it, especially the younger ones.”

PAHO also suggests stricter enforcing of the lower speed limits.

When asked what penalties speeding motorists could face, Cabral told the Observer Media Group that police will be given a ticket and fined $200.

Then "we will take them to court and the magistrate will use discretion," he added.