Sol Petroleum has created a map for its fleet of fuel truck drivers highlighting “accident black spots” on Bermuda’s roads.

Safety on the roads is paramount for the company due to the highly flammable product, including jet fuel, it transports across the island.

The company’s former fleet supervisor Che Barker and its fleet of drivers devised the map as a group and it is continually evolving as hazards become apparent over time and through experience. Sol Petroleum shared the map with Drive for Change as part of our common goal to improve road safety in Bermuda.

It highlights challenging road and traffic features including awkward junctions, blind corners, winding roads, narrow sections, obstructions and even traffic density.

Some examples include busy junctions either side of the Arboretum, a blind corner at Shelly Bay Beach, an awkward junction at Devonshire Marsh and a narrow stretch near St George’s Cricket Club. “The goal of the map was to take a detailed look at the roads with an eye towards identifying hazards,” explained Mr Barker. “It is used in tandem with our site plans to ensure every delivery is done safely.

“When looking at the roads, we didn’t just look for obvious hazards such as windy roads and blind junctions, we also looked at areas where traffic could lead to hazardous conditions.

“For instance, the roads around schools get considerably busier during drop offs and pickups so we do our best to arrange deliveries to avoid those areas.

“The map is a tool that is always evolving, and can be added to as needed.

“Road conditions can change at any times with roadworks, construction, spills, etc, and if any of our drivers see a potential hazard, they radio it in to inform the other team members.”

The map should not be considered a comprehensive record of all hazardous areas, as it only covers the routes of the truck drivers, but it still provides useful information about those roads that are included.

While the map was designed to keep Sol drivers safe, Mr Barker says it is a useful source for all of our road users.

“The tool also works for more than just our team. The conditions that we highlight on the map are the same for all Bermudian drivers and knowing about them beforehand can ensure that there are no surprises during your daily commute.

“Thinking about your route before you get in the vehicle will help to put you in the right mental state for your journey. As they say, knowing is half the battle.”