Dear Editor,
Permit me to first express my exasperation about the continuous traffic buildup in Grove/Diamond during peak, and now off peak, periods. Over the years, I’ve seen the traffic situation evolve from minor buildups to now congestion that lasts for hours albeit the existence of an alternate roadway connecting Diamond to Eccles. While it is understood that the limited use of that roadway is due to the current construction of the connecting roadway to Mandela, what is not quite understood is why the traffic congestion sometimes lasts for 12 hours on weekends. That is right – from 8 am to 8 pm!
Secondly, I am an Economist and believe in data-driven policies. As such, over the last eleven months, I conducted an experiment to observe the traffic situation when there are Traffic Police controlling traffic flow versus when there is uncontrolled flow. The results are formidable. 99 percent of the times, there is congestion when the traffic is being controlled by an Officer. When there are no Police controlling the traffic, ceteris paribus, there is a relatively free flow of traffic. Like Adam Smith’s (1776) argument that excessive Government intervention causes market inefficiencies and disequilibrium, I’d like to believe based on the data collected that Traffic Officers’ presence on the roadways causes disequilibrium. When drivers come out of Diamond Scheme to cross the junction on a needs (demand) basis, ongoing, and oncoming traffic on the main road pauses momentarily to allow exit from the scheme (supply), then continues. There is no buildup. However, when Officers stop the traffic on the main road to allow traffic out of the Scheme that natural demand-supply flow is interrupted causing congestion on the side where the demand for passage is greater.
Thirdly, I’d like to recommend that Officers be properly trained in traffic management in accordance with international best practices as the traffic situation seems to be a growing concern nationally. A roundabout at the junction might also work wonders. Until then, please keep the officers off of the road and observe how this new approach effectively solves, or at least mitigates, our traffic woes.
Respectfully,
Danny Deonarine