Motorcycle Accidents Continue to Escalate

Since the first quarter of 2023, insurance premiums particularly on motorcycles went from a hundred dollars to two hundred and fifty dollars per year. And when we visited an insurance company to inquire the reason, they said that it was because serious accidents involving motorcycles in Belize had increased significantly and that their payouts for those accidents for medical treatments had soared and had begun to have an impact on the insurance industry financially. In one week, the insurance company noted that there were between five and seven motorcycle-related accidents in one week. That was almost one per day. There has not been a recent compilation of the number of deadly motorcycle accidents recently, but by police reports, the frequency of these accidents continues to be high. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams says a lot of times the fault is on the motorcycle drivers.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We do have a number of these accidents involving motorcycles and I want to appeal to motorcycle drivers that the rules of the road apply to them as well. Many times, motorcycle drivers believe – or they operate in such a way as if the rules of the road do not apply to them. They overtake on the wrong side. They see vehicle coming and still overtaking – several infractions that they would commit on these motorcycles. And it is a danger to their health. And that’s the reason why we’re seeing that a number of persons are dying as a result of motorcycle accidents. And so we want to encourage motorcycle riders to please adhere to the rules of the road, and if they do it is going to help to save their lives.”