As Saint Lucia prepares for its annual Thanksgiving long weekend starting October 5, a leading regional insurance provider is sounding the alarm to motorists, calling for heightened vigilance on the island’s roads amid ongoing public concern over rising road fatalities, severe collisions, and widespread unsafe driving habits.
GK Insurance EC (GKIEC) launched the public appeal ahead of the holiday, when a surge in intercity travel, family reunions, and social gatherings is projected to put far more vehicles and pedestrians on Saint Lucia’s road network than an average weekend. Road safety has remained a persistent public priority across the island for years, with preventable traffic incidents leaving lasting impacts on bereaved families, overstretched emergency response teams, and local communities.
In a statement accompanying the appeal, GKIEC Managing Director Tammara Glaves-Hucey emphasized that the long weekend is intended to be a joyful period for gathering with loved ones, and simple proactive steps can eliminate most preventable collision risks. “Thanksgiving should be remembered for the meaningful moments we share with the people we care about, not for a devastating collision that could have easily been avoided,” Glaves-Hucey said. She went on to highlight the most common dangerous decisions that turn holiday celebrations into tragedy: reckless speeding, distracted driving from mobile phone use, unsafe overtaking, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Glaves-Hucey laid out clear, actionable guidance for motorists heading out over the weekend: plan travel routes in advance before leaving home, build extra time into itineraries to account for increased traffic volume, designate a sober driver if alcohol will be part of holiday events, and commit to putting phones away entirely while operating a vehicle. She also reminded drivers to complete a quick pre-trip safety check of their vehicles to confirm roadworthiness, including inspecting tire condition and pressure, testing brake function, checking all exterior lights, and verifying that other core safety equipment is in working order.
Beyond basic on-road practices, Glaves-Hucey framed road safety as an integral component of broader personal and financial preparedness for drivers. “While insurance exists to support motorists when the unexpected does go wrong, our support starts long before a claim is ever filed,” she explained. “Prevention is always far better than recovery. We want every driver to protect themselves, their passengers, and every other person sharing the road with them.”
GKIEC data shows that 14 people lost their lives in traffic-related incidents across Saint Lucia last year. While that figure marked a welcome decline from previous years, the insurer stressed that road safety remains an urgent public issue that cannot be overlooked.
GKIEC Regional Business Development Manager Roger Hare added his voice to the appeal, urging vehicle owners to use the holiday period as an opportunity to confirm their insurance coverage, vehicle registration, and other required documentation is up to date, and to review what protections their existing policies provide. Even with proper coverage in place, however, Hare emphasized that collision prevention must remain every driver’s top priority.
“This Thanksgiving weekend, slow down, put your phone away, never drink and get behind the wheel, buckle your seat belt every time you drive, and extend the same patience and courtesy to other road users that you would want your own family to receive,” Hare urged. “Everyone wants to arrive at their destination safe and sound. That has to be the goal every single time we start a car and pull onto the road.”