BVI News

Gov’t working to increase fines for road misuse — Rymer

Minister for Transportation Works and Utilities, Kye Rymer.

In the wake of two recent tragic deaths and numerous complaints about the misuse of the territory’s road networks, Minister of Transportation and Works Kye Rymer has indicated that the government is taking steps to curb poor road usage.

“We are working to amend the legislation to increase the fines,” Rymer expressed when he appeared on the Talking Points radio show recently. “I also want to encourage persons to utilise the roadways in a safe manner.“  

Rymer encouraged scooter riders in particular to use their helmets and wear all necessary safety gear. He emphasised that there are laws that stipulate such measures about safe road use.

“I know the police, they go out, and they do their enforcement. But there are laws on the books, and we hope that those persons utilising the roadways would respect the law and actually wear their helmets, and for vehicles, wear their seatbelts and try to traverse roads in a safe and responsible manner,“ Rymer stated.

The Works Minister noted that there were seven fatalities in road accidents in 2022, three of which involved scooters. 

Minister Rymer also extended condolences to the grieving relatives of persons who lost their lives in the two recent fatal accidents that happened hours apart.

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19 Comments

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  1. Tamarind says:

    Much of the damage to the roads happens when either the utility teams do work involving digging up chunks of the road or property owners put in a new water line, etc and the road surface is never repaired.
    Any damage inflicted on a road surface should be repaired up to standard. Permission to do the original digging should be required from Public Works and when the job is complete it should be inspected to see that it meets standards.

    Like 19
    Dislike 2
  2. Salty Fish says:

    Talking time is upon us! Rhetoric devoid of solutions!

    Like 14
    Dislike 1
  3. more old talk says:

    All we keep hearing is CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY and not a doggone thing is being done about these nuisance scooters

    Like 15
    Dislike 2
  4. Scientist says:

    To Tamarind’s comment: Besides road damage from utility teams, most of the damage is caused by heavy vehicles. Commercial vehicles cause a disproportionate amount of road damage/ For example : A fully laden cement truck is equivalent to about 1,700 private vehicles at one time in one place as it rolls along the road. Such vehicles should make a bigger contribution in terms of registration costs etc.
    Secondly,. much of the road damage we see is because roads were poorly constructed. Attention not given to issues like proper design (i.e. drainage, appropriate thickness for projected traffic use, etc), proper road base compaction, proper mix (many concrete roads were built with cement made with unwashed beach sand), etc.
    Lastly, if we want to decrease scooter fatalities, enforce the traffic laws.

    Like 24
  5. Culprits says:

    Water and sewage always digging up the road and leaving the concrete/asphalt ruble right there on the side.

  6. Absolute joke says:

    This has been going on for decades.

    If there is a violation confiscate and destroy the bikes and fine the driver. Stop playing around!

    Like 15
  7. enforcement says:

    What we need is enforcement! If the current laws were enforced then at least some of this nonsense would stop! Increasing the fines means NOTHING if nobody is enforcing them!

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  8. Pipe nose says:

    “Fines”?????This dude can’t be for real. The state of the roads are terrible. And he never took the foolishness the scooter riders are doing serious. How many years have we been complaining about the reckless riders??? We see ATV & dirt bikes taking over the public roads

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  9. LG says:

    Completely agree, the heavy (often overloaded) trucks cause the most wear and damage on the roads . registration fees for heavy vehicles should be appropriate to that so like other places in the world 10k to 15000$ a year. cars should pay 1000$ this would ensure $$$ for road upkeep.
    heavy fines for anybody putting excavators on the road without surface protection. Its just common sense. Scooters: enforce the law , helmets . speed limits. unsafe driving. And while we are at it mufflers on scooters and trucks. ban engine brakes in built up areas. JUST COMMON SENSE.

    Like 2
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  10. Busy Bee says:

    @more old talk –
    Absolutely spot on! The scooter and motorcycle scene on the BVI is akin to the Wild West! Anything goes. And the police know where they congregate but do zero to deal with the problem. Shame!!!
    Meanwhile, the Hon. Mr. Rymer thinks larger, beefier, faster motorcycles ought to be allowed!?!

  11. Busy Bee says:

    @Scientist
    It’s a bit of everything. Yes, over laden trucks and lorries, traveling over roads that evolved from donkey paths on the hillsides are a problem.
    Couple it with lack of actual “repairs”. The government “patches”. It took something like Irma to force the government into actual “repairs”.
    The pot holes get patched, then within 3 months are back in the same spot as before… Over and and over and over again.

  12. Busy Bee says:

    Hon. Minister Rymer, please explain to me again, why should I bother to renew the licensee tag and the vehicle insurance for my motorcar, or my personal drivers license? I certainly don’t need this expense nor the hassle. Isn’t my motorcar a motorised vehicle, just like a motorcycle or a motor scooter?

    Please tell me, Hon. Minister, that the vast bulk of the scooters and motorcycles we see weaving through traffic on the island are fully licensed, insured and compliant with the law, because if helmet compliance is one of the measures, then I am confused.

    Therefore I should apply the same standards to my motorcar, right?

    Isn’t it “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander?”

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  13. Driver says:

    What good are fines when people are consistently breaking traffic laws IN FRONT of police with no repercussions!?

    No helmet, no seatbelt, talking on the phone, running a red light… I see people breaking these laws every day!

    And why do they do it…? There’s no enforcement!!

  14. Driver says:

    I love your optimism! Thinking the ‘repairs’ last even three months…

  15. Me says:

    Is this the same man during last election was calling for bigger bikes to be allowed?

  16. Ow lun says:

    Been saying this for years KR! Your inaction is quite evident. It’s time for a reshuffle as KR seems to be all about talk and no actions that will change the dynamics in Motor Vehicle use on public roadway.

  17. Concern says:

    I have never ever see Tortola look this bad
    Where is public works.
    The road is as bushy as the mountain.the gaurd rail you cannot see them,sidewalk is bushy.
    These representive only represent thereself.
    Please can the government clean up the road side.cut the bush.
    Old cars,trucks all over the place.
    I

  18. Hmmmm says:

    I don’t hear anyone complaining about the taxi drivers around the round about blocking traffic. Sometimes they are more of a hazard than the moto cycles. Until there is a pile ip nothing is going to be done about it

  19. Migoman says:

    Wondering what else you mixed in that blunt that youre smoking

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