Dear Editor,
With the primary interest of preserving lives, one would wish for much more effective control and management of our exponentially growing road transportation confusion.
One would like to see a vigorous display of corporate social responsibility by members of the private sector (euphemistically described as the ‘engine’ of ‘growth’) take a lead in the containment of the foreseeable traffic chaos (which could not possibly be mitigated by four-lane divisions).
We need controls, we need directions, we desperately need to insist that the thousands of new, untrained drivers (public and private) know and appreciate the basic rules and courtesies of the road.
Private sector organisations, many of whom manage businesses which involve the movement of goods, services, and people, should not be required, but rather volunteer, to contribute critically needed signage, eg:
Visible ‘STOP’ signs
Needed ‘NO ENTRY’ signs
Critical ‘NO RIGHT/LEFT TURN’ signs
‘CAUTION/SLOW’ signs
‘GIVE WAY TO THE RIGHT’ signs
‘SPEED LIMIT’ signs
Consistent identification of road humps
The Insurance Association, GMSA, the Private Sector Commission, Georgetown and Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Bankers, some of whose membership coincides with that of the Rotary and the Lions, should identify the provision of the above as a community, nay, a national project of extreme urgency.
Let us hope that among others, the National Road Safety Council, the Guyana Police Force, the Taxi Drivers and Minibus Drivers Associations get their common wish – to save lives and limbs in 2011 and beyond.
One final commitment – insist that all minibus/taxi drivers install the following notice very visibly in their vehicles:
The law requires that I proceed within the speed limit. Passengers are free to report to the authorities any time this vehicle exceeds the speed limit.
Save your customers, save our lives.
Yours faithfully,
E B John
