The death of an infant following a serious collision on Jeremiah Gumbs Highway this week has thrown a spotlight on Anguilla’s lack of child restraint laws.
While investigations continue into the circumstances of the incident, members of the public have called for legislation requiring babies and children to be secured in appropriate vehicle restraints.
“This is such a tragedy. I truly hope it will inspire more Anguillians to understand the importance of car seats… it is time for legislation to be passed to enforce their use,” one resident said.
The Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF) confirmed that the island currently has no law in place requiring children to be secured in car seats or other approved restraints.
On 12 August, Commissioner of Police Robert Clark told Anguilla Focus that the introduction of such requirements is among the objectives set out in the Policing Plan 2025-2030.
He said he understood that “the drafting of legislation is currently being progressed”, and added that the police force is committed to improving road safety in Anguilla.
Child restraint legislation
A child restraint law, as an amendment to the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, was proposed in the 44-page bill for the Criminal Justice Reform Act, 2018.
It set out age-appropriate restraint requirements for children under six, including rear-facing seats for infants and harnessed or booster seats for older children, with drivers facing an EC$1,000 fine for breaches.
Following a request for an update on the progress of the bill on 12 August, Attorney General Rachel Spearing KC told Anguilla Focus that she would revert soon.
On 14 August, former transport minister Haydn Hughes said that, after being elected in 2020, he and his team had worked on their own update to the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.
The proposed amendments included provisions on child restraints, alongside measures addressing driving under the influence, texting while driving and the wearing of seatbelts.
The draft legislation was “very close to completion” by December 2024, the now opposition member told Anguilla Focus. However, it has not proceeded to public consultation since the change of government in February 2025.
Calls for action
Questions and concerns about the lack of mandatory child restraint requirements have featured prominently in public discussion this week.
“Car seats for infants and children save lives. Perhaps it’s time to pass this requirement in Anguilla,” one commenter wrote in a social media post.
Another questioned why authorities are still relying on encouragement rather than enforcement, asking why “we are not able to enforce simple laws, if they are laws at all”.
“Why is this so difficult for our people and political systems to implement and enforce at home? It’s terrible what happened, and instead of urging, just enforce and be very strict!”
Another post pointed to restrictions already in place in St Kitts and Nevis, including requirements for child car seats and limits on children sitting in the front seat.
“I always say Anguilla need to enforce that law here. Maybe now they will do something,” they said.
Hughes said: “The thing is, what I don’t like is that we shouldn’t wait until some tragedy occurs to fast track these things – we should be a little bit more proactive.”
