Dear Editor,
I read with interest that the Police in collaboration with the National Road Safety Council have launched a ‘Respect the Road Campaign’. Many road users and especially those properly qualified drivers who took driving lessons and the mandatory Driving Classes will be relieved to know that our drivers may be about to experience a return of order, discipline, and courtesy after decades of lawlessness. I for one am not holding my breath especially since I read that it is linked to the President’s “One Guyana” initiative (another logan). I say this because I still do not understand what “One Guyana” is all about especially since it is more of a duplication of our national motto which for all intents and purposes have failed to unite a still divided nation. All that aside, if this initiative succeeds, and I pray it does, since we are only all too aware of the craziness which passes for driving in this country.
Just yesterday alone I have witnessed two incidents where the Police were involved. One was on Sandy Babb St. and Vlissingen Rds. where a large black SUV went past the traffic waiting on directions from the traffic unit and effectively blocked a truck attempting to turn East on Sandy Babb, and all those behind it. The traffic officer simply waved the SUV on who proceeded to cut off the standing traffic at the corner. Just across the road another cop was inspecting the documents of a motorcyclist. The same afternoon, around dusk, on Sandy Babb St, Newtown, Kitty a large Police pick-up is parked in the center of the east bound lane with no hazard lights and no visible rank/s again displaying no respect for the road. The morning before, another large police pick-up went the wrong way around the Bel Air Park, Community Park to access Eping Ave. and was soon after followed by a minibus and car.
The Police will first have to lead by example to determine the success or failure of the “Respect the Road” campaign. Will the Police Force be investigating the many alleged claims that scores of drivers have bought their licenses and really are the ones who, due to their ignorance of road safety and road courtesy, are putting the rest of us in danger? It is largely through the failures of the Traffic Department to deal with the many daily situations that have emboldened our road users with the wrong attitude. Many of the Force’s lawmen are out on the make thus helping the situation to reach alarming levels. Minibus operators appear to have special immunity, and many are alleged to be owned by the ranks of the GPF. The 30 newly recruited ranks are likely to follow a similar pattern as their seniors if not disciplined early.
This campaign should not be one to harass or drive the fear of the devil into errant drivers but to reach out and educate them through strict ‘on the spot’ warning with the view of suspending their driving privileges should they be found errant again. The drivers who speed and overtake on narrow congested roads without stopping for anything or anyone (The Ignorant) the ones who will pass obstructions in their path and sometimes flash their lights as they come menacingly head-on into the opposite lane (The Uneducated), the ones who overtake and cut traffic off at intersections (The Road Hogs), the ones who will not give way to parked traffic attempting to pull out (The Aggressive), the ones who have upgraded their headlights to blind oncoming traffic (The Bullies), the ones whose vehicles are fitted with flashing lights that should only be on emergency vehicles (The Untouchables), the ones who drive and overtake on the cycle lanes ( The Brainless) etc., etc.,. etc.
Will the Traffic Department insist on properly marked road lanes, speed humps and other road signage, like they have in Suriname and other well managed countries? Will “Respect the Road” extend to badly parked vehicles like the three derelict trucks on Millington Street, Newtown, Kitty, for example, which have been reported several times? ‘Respect The Road’ will only succeed if well managed and if citizens are taken aboard as their extra eyes and are assured that the Police is doing their job professionally and with integrity and respect to all road users instead of harassing the public with unnecessary stops and delays to all. ‘Nothing Prepares you for Guyana’ so we will have to wait and see.
Sincerely,
B. A Ramsay