Dear Editor,
It is heartening to have seen no less than three letters in your esteem publication of 6/20/24 dealing with the urgent aspect of Road Safety, all advocating for regulations of one kind or another. Is anyone paying attention?
In the case of letter writer Mr. Imrit, his call for specific speed limits to be mandated especially in the case of the new wave of wild and reckless heavy truck drivers is one which I, and am certain, many concerned Guyanese would immediately endorsed without question. As recently as Wednesday 19th of this instant, I was harassed for some time by a large truck traveling behind me on the railway embankment, a road under construction.
The impatient driver was menacingly close at my rear with his loud horn constantly sending me a message to get out of his path on a road which operates as a one way every morning. When he finally got pass by cutting off drivers in the opposite lane I was treated to his loud abuses “if yuh (expletive…expletive) don’t know how to drive stay home”. I have a picture of his truck and number GAG 9547. In many developed and developing countries, trucks are required by law and signage to keep to a specific side of the road and must not exceed a prescribed speed limit.
The other letter is from an anonymous writer of First St., Chesney/Kilcoy. South, and clearly demonstrates the contempt of our citizens for law and order. It should not be difficult for an investigation to locate the drivers who willfully destroyed the Chesney/Kilroy street barriers and make them pay for the damage as well as give a clear warning to the Electrical Auto Mechanic who is clearly in violation of the residential codes/laws.
The third letter which I wrote, and published on the same day, dealt with Road Carnage and incompetent drivers which, if my suggestion is adopted, recommends that the Police Traffic Dept., The Guyana Road Safety Council and Insurance companies collaborate in a plan to penalizing drivers and motorcyclist where it hurt most. Endorsement of licenses leading to restrictions and to the extreme, permanent loss of driving privileges. One must use “extreme” regulations in “extreme” situations if we are truly serious about dealing with this chronic dilemma. Real development must be holistic, new roads with delinquent drivers cannot be seen as such.
Sincerely,
Bernard Ramsay
