News Releases

Call for Data on Pedestrian Injuries at UWI Webinar

For Release Upon Receipt - January 29, 2026

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – January 29, 2026 - Pedestrian safety is an issue many Caribbean citizens encounter daily, whether navigating busy school zones, crossing narrow town streets, or sharing road space with fast-moving traffic and informal transit. As urban centres continue to grow and car-centric development dominates transportation planning, those who walk and cycle remain among the region’s most vulnerable road users. This was the root of the dialogues where The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine, through its Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, convened a timely regional discussion on how Caribbean streets can be made safer, more inclusive and better suited for people.

The Department successfully hosted the webinar ‘Safer Streets: Pedestrian Safety and Active Mobility in the Caribbean’ on January 19, 2026, bringing together industry professionals, academics and students to examine evidence-based approaches to improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists across the region. The session featured perspectives from Mr. Kenute Hare - CEO, Tamper Consulting, Mrs. Cheryl Bennett-Inniss- Retired Chief Technical Officer, Barbados, and Mr. Garnette Cadogan - Lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The discussions emphasized the urgent need for people-centred transportation planning and reinforced the importance of regional collaboration in addressing longstanding safety challenges.

A significant takeaway from the webinar was the need for more comprehensive data collection, particularly in relation to non-fatal pedestrian injuries, which are frequently underreported despite their potential to cause lifelong disability. Participants also raised concerns about inconsistencies in accident investigation standards across the Caribbean, noting challenges in “hit-and-run” cases and the complications presented by informal public transport systems.

The limitations of infrastructure development within narrow, historic Caribbean corridors were also explored. In response, recommendations arose for the prioritising of pedestrian infrastructure in school zones and tourism-heavy areas, alongside the use of practical engineering interventions such as raised crosswalks, curb extensions and bulb-outs. These measures were identified as effective, low-cost solutions for reducing vehicle speeds and improving pedestrian safety without significantly disrupting traffic flow.

Broader social and policy considerations featured prominently in the discussion, including the cultural prestige associated with car ownership, which often discourages walking, and the impact of extreme heat and tropical weather on “last-mile” connectivity for those without private transport. The importance of shifting from car-focused “road” design to people-centred “street” planning was emphasised, with calls for unified planning standards and more transparent, dedicated funding for vulnerable road users.

The webinar reinforced The UWI’s role as a regional leader in transportation research and policy engagement. By fostering dialogue, stimulating new research interest and translating academic findings into actionable recommendations, the university continues to contribute meaningfully to the development of safer, more accessible and resilient streets across the Caribbean.

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About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

 

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