More than 50,000 vehicles are registered to travel on Cayman’s roads, according to road-safety entities that were prompted to appeal for more responsible driving following two fatal crashes and another two collisions that snarled traffic for hours in the past two weeks.
In the run-up to the long Easter weekend, the Ministry of Transport revealed that, as of this month, the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing has 50,865 registered vehicles and 62,798 licensed drivers, on its books.
This means that since the end of 2022, another 4,666 cars are on Cayman’s roads. The Compass reported last year that in 2022, a total of 46,199 vehicles passed DVDL inspection, an increase of 22% on 2021.
“Our roads are busier than ever, bustling with an increasing number of vehicles and drivers,” according to a statement issued Thursday by the transport ministry on behalf of the National Road Safety Committee, the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing, the Department of Public Safety Communications, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and the National Roads Authority.
The entities say they are “sounding the alarm for immediate community engagement based on the latest road safety data. This collective call to action is not just about addressing the immediate concerns but forging a path to a safer, more responsible future on our roads.”
In a statement earlier in the week, the National Road Safety Committee noted that more than 600 car accidents had been recorded since the beginning of this year, with speeding, drink driving and use of a phone while driving the key factors in those collisions.
Road deaths
In two single-vehicle crashes that occurred within a 24-hour period earlier this month, two people lost their lives.
Mexican national Dulce Rodriguez died after her car collided with a utility pole some time between 2am and 3am on Wednesday, 20 March, on South Side Road West, Cayman Brac.
In the early hours of the following morning, Jamaican national Teron Anthony Johnson, 22, died after his car crashed into a tree by the junction of Bodden Town Road and Anton Bodden Drive in Bodden Town.
These are the first two fatal accidents to have occurred in Cayman this year. Last year, nine people died on Cayman’s roads, 15 died in 2015, and nine each in 2021 and 2020.
According to Thursday’s statement, quoting numbers from the DVDL, “Since 2020, the number of licensed drivers has surged from 53,779 to 62,798 in 2024, alongside an active vehicle registration exceeding 50,000.
“This growth, while indicative of our development, brings to light the challenges on our roads.”
Rising trend across all districts
It noted that the number of motor vehicle accidents reported by the RCIPS has risen from 2,167 in 2020 to 3,196 in 2023. As well as the 15 fatalities in 2023, there were also 22 serious injuries reported.
“This uptick is not confined to Grand Cayman alone but is a trend observed across all districts, with George Town, Bodden Town, and West Bay witnessing the most significant increases,” the statement noted.
Last year, the RCIPS recorded 10,716 traffic offences, up from 7,651 in 2020. In 2023, there were 4,654 speeding violations, compared to 3,999 in 2020.
The road safety entities stated that their analysis shows that the most significant increases in accidents were occurring in George Town, Bodden Town and West Bay, though it was a “concerning trend across the Cayman Islands”.
George Town saw a sharp rise from 1,666 crashes in 2020 to 2,439 in 2023.
Similarly, traffic offences have also surged, with speeding tickets rising from 3,999 in 2020 to 4,654 in 2023, “emphasizing a critical area for intervention”.
“The statistics paint a stark picture: as the Cayman Islands grow, so does the responsibility of each driver,” the statement noted. “The rising trend in road accidents and traffic violations is a call to action for every member of our community. From George Town to Little Cayman, each district has a role to play in safeguarding our roads. As our islands grow, so do our challenges in maintaining safe roads.”
Chairman of the National Road Safety Committee and chief officer in the transport ministry, Eric Bush, said in the statement, “The RCIPS is doing their part, with thousands of traffic offences detected and prosecuted, showcasing their vigilance and dedication to keeping our roads safe.
“However, as we face these challenges, it’s clear that the solution does not lie with the police force alone. The NRSC is committed to implementing high-level legislation and stricter enforcement measures. Nevertheless, the core of our strategy is community involvement.”
He added, “We are at a critical juncture where the actions of every individual on the road can save lives. It’s not just about avoiding fines or penalties; it’s about protecting our loved ones and ensuring the safety of our community.”
He called on all members of the community to come together, “not just as the 62,798 drivers but as families, friends, and neighbours, to stop this trend. Everyone needs to realize every action counts, from obeying speed limits to putting down our phones while driving.”
RoadtoZero
Last year, the government unveiled its ‘RoadtoZero’ initiative – a campaign that aims to reduce the number of collisions on local roads over the next 14 years.
The main targets in the Cayman Islands National Road Safety Strategy 2023-2038 are to reduce road fatalities by 30% by 2028 and to eradicate them entirely by 2038.
Bush, in the latest statement, said this initiative is “more than a campaign; it’s a commitment to each other and the future of the Cayman Islands”.
He added, “Every one of us holds the power to make our roads safer. It starts with a simple pledge – your pledge – to drive responsibly. Let’s do this together.”
For more information the RoadtoZero campaign, visit gov.ky/road-safety.
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Cars driven into walls, trees and utility poles at the dead of night has nothing to do with the number of cars on the road.
Most of the traffic delays would be resolved with the completion of the airport road that bypasses the ALT roundabout and an overpass, flyover, at the Hurley’s roundabout.
In my opinion excessive speeding, driving without due care and attention, driving too close to vehicle in front, lack of use of indicators are major causes of road accidents.
Shamrock Road is a race track travelling from eastern districts to George Town. In fact on any of the 2or 3 lane roads drivers appear to use them as if on a racetrack! Be a tortoise not a hare!!!
When is the department of transport going to smarten up and lay streetcar tracks down the centre of the east-west arterial highway? If there was RELIABLE and efficient public transit, people would take it. Expropriate the empty field on the SE corner at Hirst St and put a big parking lot. Complete lack of planning or foresight on the DOT’s part.
Government has failed the people miserably by permitting unfettered importation of vehicles by temporary workers, by not implementing a simple monorail from East End to West Bay, and by not building the bypass for which there is no legal requirement for another few million dollars to be spent on blood-sucking consultants, since its legal authorisation in LA for construction predates the miserable era of the EIA.
We need overpasses at AL Thompson’s and Grand Harbour roundabouts. RCIPS need more presence on the roads and to set example of better driving (use signals!) and the EIA for the East West Arterial to Frank Sound needs to be completed ASAP! Elevate the road where needed!