ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — Men continue to account for the majority of people injured in road traffic collisions in Antigua and Barbuda, Government Senator Shaquan O’Neill said Monday as he urged motorists to drive more responsibly during debate on the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026.
Addressing the Senate, O’Neill cited statistics from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Traffic Department Statistics Unit showing that of the 337 people injured in traffic collisions in 2023, 206 were men. In 2024, 239 of the 417 people injured were also male, a trend he said lawmakers should not ignore.
“Listen to this important part, Madam President, because I’m getting to it,” O’Neill said before highlighting the figures, arguing that road safety remains a pressing national concern.
The senator noted that Antigua and Barbuda recorded 2,448 traffic collisions and 10 fatalities in 2023. In 2024, there were 2,610 collisions and five fatalities, while 2025 saw 2,749 reported collisions and nine deaths.
While acknowledging that the Fatal Accidents Bill applies to all forms of wrongful death, including workplace accidents and medical negligence, O’Neill said road crashes remain one of the country’s most visible causes of fatal accidents.
“I want to do quickly here, Madam President, is to share some statistics from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda Traffic Department Statistics Unit,” he said. “We cannot simply overlook… that this is the leading cause of fatal accidents.”
O’Neill also recounted responding to the scene of a hit-and-run after receiving a call from a colleague who had witnessed a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.
“I took it upon myself, Madam President, to not only call the emergency services, but to also race to the scene,” he said. “I could not believe… that someone could be so wicked. To not only hit someone, but to also drive away.”
He said experiences such as that reinforce the need for stronger road safety awareness and legislation that provides support for families whose loved ones die because of another person’s negligence.
The Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 was later approved by the Senate, replacing the country’s 1924 Fatal Accidents Act with a modern framework for compensation in cases involving wrongful death.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Senator Says Men Continue to Bear Brunt of Road Traffic Injuries.