Dear Editor,
Every day on our roads there is a potential accident waiting to happen. Given the way we drive it is surprising that our figures are relatively low. While it’s true that our roads are small and many are in very bad shape, the volume of traffic keeps increasing with little being done to improve or manage bad use by drivers and other users. The habit of drivers moving into your path to avoid various obstructions is a major hazard which we consequently, seem to have accepted as normal. A driver will move into your lane to avoid a pothole, a parked vehicle, pedestrians’ cyclist etc. simply by flashing their lights to intimidate the oncoming driver. I have had my wing mirror removed by a crazy driver who said to me “look wah yuh don, yuh see meh flashing yuh and yuh nah stap”.
Editor, our driving is pure madness with private vehicles, minibuses and taxies all stopping anywhere, anyhow, making their own lanes, recklessly crossing into your path and on you blind side, changing lanes, honking horns, and discourteously not allowing others to pull out or reverse in tight situations, they come around and go around you in any which way that would make a Grand Prix driver look like a Sunday driver. I see police patrols ignore all this but would stop you on North Road and Church Road opposite the GCC while there is chaos on Regent St. and elsewhere. The cops on bikes and cars are all over but never see the minibus that cuts you off at the roundabout or who gets into a turning lane at the lights so he can be the first to go straight ahead as he cuts off the driver in the appropriate lane, or the ones that would stop opposite each other to take on or drop off passengers while the traffic both ways and at the nearby junction must all wait.
Editor, the Traffic Chief must get on top of this by taking the necessary and responsible action. The City Inspectors or Ministry of Works should be monitoring the roadways and making the appropriate recommendations for repairs, expansions, and other works. School zones should be a special area of attention, School Ahead signs are not sufficient, there should be posted Speed Limits and No Overtaking signs. Traffic approaching Schools should be prohibited from overtaking and speed limits always reduced especially during the morning periods and after school dismissals. Importantly no new school should be allowed to operate in busy areas unless they can provide safe drop-offs and pick-us. A complete study should be undertaken to assess the condition of our roads and traffic behavior. The slogan, “Road Safety is Everyone’s Business” will only make sense if everyone concerned gets aboard, otherwise it’s just meaningless.
Sincerely,
Bernard Ramsay