On the roads, accidents happen every day

While the 2025/2026 season has already seen a high influx of tourists to Saint Barthélemy, it has also been marked by a high number of road accidents. Not all of these are recorded in the data collected by the gendarmerie or the STIS (Territorial Fire and Rescue Service). This is simply because the victims, often alone at the time of a fall or a minor collision with no serious consequences other than material damage, do not alert the emergency services. Nevertheless, since the start of the festive season, there have been frequent daily call-outs for road accidents. Sometimes with a suspicious blood alcohol level or proven drug use, but in a minority of officially reported cases. In reality, lack of attention, dangerous behavior, and sometimes the condition of the road surface are most often the cause of accidents.
Over the weekend of January 10 and 11, the police responded to four road accidents. Three of these involved scooters. Blood alcohol levels above the legal limit and loss of control were noted. However, there were no serious injuries.
Meanwhile, the Stis fire department was called on Saturday, January 10, around noon to an accident involving a car and a scooter. Three victims were counted, including two young women aged 19 and 22 who were slightly injured and transported to the hospital. Ten firefighters and four Stis vehicles were mobilized for nearly two hours for this single operation.
According to official data, while there have been no serious accidents to date, falls and other collisions are on the rise. Many accidents are avoided thanks to the vigilance of cautious and responsive drivers. Examples abound: motorists driving in the left lane because their eyes are glued to their phones, drivers cutting across lanes in curves, and users driving at speeds that are far too high. The number of injuries is also high.