Dear Editor,
I would like to express my condolences to the grieving relatives of the ten people who lost their lives in the latest McKenzie Highway smash-up.
It would seem like only a few years ago, but I vividly recall the first casualty on this highway was my beloved neighbour who taught at the McKenzie Government School. And ironically, the vehicle she was travelling in collided with the back of a broken truck stuck in the middle of one of the two lanes of the highway. That was almost forty years ago, and either nothing has changed to make the road safer or people continue to lose sight of caution and responsibility.
Might I suggest the reintroduction of a toll system that would serve the specific purpose of using the revenues generated towards making the highway safer? If Linden is going to be the gateway to the interior, serious consideration must be given to making the McKenzie Highway user friendly by international standards. So like letter writer, Mr. Frank Fyffe, I think the time is long past for the highway to have lights installed, probably on curves and hills.
Another benefit of having tolls reintroduced is to allow for highway patrol officers to check all trucks plying the road to determine their road worthiness before being allowed on the highway, but especially when transporting heavy loads. For example, if it is not happening yet, then maybe trucks can also be checked at toll stations to determine if they are carrying loads greater than they are actually capable of, thereby putting undue stress on the truck’s engine and structure, and resulting in breakdowns.
Trucks permitted to use the highway should also be equipped with at least five working red lamps so that if they break down en route drivers can then place these brightly lit lamps up twenty feet apart for up to 100 feet on the roadway but off to the side of the curb. Tailing drivers seeing the first red lamp should have ample time to slow or avoid a collision if they are driving within the prescribed speed limit.
Drivers of minibuses that constantly ply the highway should also be required to have working red lamps on their vehicles, especially after dark. But drivers of vehicles that break down on the highway definitely ought to get a message to patrol officers who would then respond and protect the area until assistance is received to remove the vehicle. A fee should be charged for this involvement by patrol officers.
Drivers of trucks who fail to have working lamps should not be allowed on the highway or if they fail to use their lamps or fail to get information to patrol officers in a timely manner should be held liable in a court of law for injuries to or deaths of persons in other vehicles that collide with their stranded vehicle.
I don’t know that having all these changes will eliminate the problem of highway accidents that result in injuries and fatalities, because even though the highways in developed countries have all the modern safety systems and devices, deadly accidents still occur.
Which brings me to the important role drivers have to play in controlling their vehicle in wet conditions, dark conditions and crowded conditions: knowing what to do can save lives. Commonsense is often all that is needed.
And because the McKenzie Highway is fraught with hills and curves, there are useful tips drivers should know. For example, know the road that you consider part of your workplace. On curves and the top of hills that may limit a driver’s vision, slowing down on approach is the wise thing to do. If a driver experiences a blown front tire while driving, especially down a hill, never hit the brakes, but take the foot off the gas pedal and firmly grip the steering wheel for maximum vehicle control until the vehicle slows and stops. Do not smoke and drive. If a driver feels sleepy while driving, stop, exit the vehicle and do a physical check of the vehicle before resuming the journey.
Accidents happen, the saying goes, but the truth is, most times they’re caused by carelessness. I hope something good comes out of this latest tragedy that can benefit drivers and passengers in the future.
Yours faithfully,
Emile Mervin