Of Roads and Accidents (Spanish Lookout)
(Here's a link to an accident that happened last year at this time. I wrote the article a few days later: https://belizemennonites.blogspot.com/2018/06/attending-mennonite-funeral.html )
To begin with, even though Spanish Lookout is an autonomous colony, it is still in Belize. It is true that traffic regulations are more relaxed but if you're a conscientious Belizean, the same traffic law that applies to you in Belmopan should be followed here as well whether or not there are officials to enforce it.
There are other non-Mennonite villages in Belize where under-age boys and girls drive motorbikes on the main road without helmets. As long as the driver remains within the community it seems to be an accepted practice by the residents.
While it is true that some paved roads in Spanish Lookout are unmarked and have no shoulders, there are big portions of upgraded, marked and divided roads complete with reflectors and cautionary signs. Road maintenance is an ongoing process that is paid by Spanish Lookout taxpayers but enjoyed by all of Belize. Think on that.
Government police do not hold traffic checks inside the main community of Spanish Lookout. However the volunteer constables of Spanish Lookout hold vehicle checks and inspect your lights, if you're wearing a helmet, check your speed with a hand-held sensor, etc.
Now let's look outside of Spanish Lookout: in spite of all the traffic checkpoints on the Belizean highways, the number of deaths by RTA is still very high. Besides, when you stop at a checkpoint, how on earth can the police tell that you paid $300 under the table to his buddy to get your licenses WITHOUT any tests and legal procedures? (unfortunately this is common in Belize, even some Mennonite residents of Spanish Lookout practice this).
I hope to see the day when the "highways" of Belize could truly look like highways. The pitiful conditions of the Northern Highway, the Hummingbird Highway and part of the George Price Highway would be no more than poor country roads when compared to other countries in Central and North America. Large sections of the "highways" are patched, have no shoulders, absolutely no markings, few signs, dangerous curves without any warnings, reflectors or guardrails.
Spanish Lookout roads and regulations are not necessarily accountable for fatalities. You see, 10 seconds of carelessness is enough to change someone's life permanently. The majority of RTA's in Spanish Lookout are caused simply because of reckless or careless driving by both Mennonites and non-Mennonites. Perhaps a motorcycle driver tried to pass a van at the wrong time or vice versa. Or maybe a pickup driver made a left turn without paying much attention to oncoming traffic.
Motorcar to motorbike is the most common form of RTA in Spanish Lookout and interestingly, these happen on the paved main roads. Rarely will they happen on the gravel roads.
One of the most horrible accidents happened in 2008. A young couple on a Honda scooter collided with a young man on a Ninja. All three died. Last year 2 boys died when their bikes collided. This year, an older couple on a motorbike was knocked down and both died on the spot.
In RTA's and other accidents, government police are required to be present to assess the incident and file an official report.
