Dear Editor,
In July I wrote a lengthy letter expressing my personal experience and increasing concern with regard to the continuing unabated loss of life from accidents on our roads. Since then, it has become worse. Almost every day, without fail, you read that a life has been lost from a road accident. So, the question is why is this happening and why is it getting worse? The answer is obvious. Reckless driving and, consequently, dangerous driving on hugely overcrowded roads continue without fear of punishment by those who indulge in it. The other side of this coin is that those of us who drive safely are not protected from those who don’t.
We are not protected because the maximum fines when found guilty of reckless driving and even dangerous driving under our laws are ridiculously low. We are not protected because accident cases before the courts take months to be settled. We are not protected because full third-party vehicle insurance limits are ridiculously low under our laws and the reason for that is the resistance of the Insurance Association of Guyana to increasing the limits.
In fact, some ten years ago, the government recommended increased third-party insurance limits, but the Association pushed back claiming that it would result in higher premiums which drivers could not afford. In my view, this is arrant nonsense, and it is time the Attorney General, who has recently threatened to act on this matter, does so. At present, the minimum insurance allowed, for instance, for minibuses, hire-cars and heavy-duty trucks for collision is $25,000, whereas it ought to be somewhere in the region of $2M at minimum in any modern society.
We are not protected because too many drivers have bought their licences and continue to do so. We are not protected because even those drivers who are legitimately licenced refuse to recognize or respect even the most basic traffic standards and regulations. For instance:
• Entering a roundabout in confrontation with the vehicle already circling the roundabout.
• Crossing a traffic light controlled intersection on a yellow light turning to red and, all too frequently, even on red lights.
• Overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic, risking collision.
• Overtaking when approaching a blind corner
• Motorcyclists refusing to wear helmets.
• Undertaking on the inside of the left-hand lane. A frequent practice on the new Mandela Avenue, using the cycle lane.
• Animals roaming freely on roads and highways with the owners uncaring and unpunished.
• Driving at night with bright high-beam lights on blinding the vison of oncoming traffic.
• Excessive speeding beyond prescribed limit.
All of the above occurs every day every hour on our roads but, in fact, could very easily be stopped by the determined intervention and prosecution of our traffic police prepared to do their job and prompt action in our courts. Incidentally, one way of ensuring that our traffic police do their job is to have them wear body cameras. No matter how many traffic seminars, traffic lectures or public appeals to errant drivers take place, nothing much will change until those responsible for enforcing the law do so and those who break the law are made to suffer the consequences.
Sincerely,
Kit Nascimento
