Fatal road accidents still a great distress

Aug 07, 2008 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
The increase in the number of fatal road accidents is still a great distress to our country as it further reduces the already low population numbers we have here in Guyana (a population also being even more sadly and alarmingly reduced by an apparently ever-increasing murder rate, but that’s another horror story).

The recent accident with the cement truck is an example of the indiscipline which is now endemic in our society.

Residents report there was indeed a sign indicating the bridge was in a serious state of disrepair and so could not take the weight of heavy duty vehicles but someone, for whatever twisted, selfish reason, removed the sign and now a whole community is terribly inconvenienced and what is horribly much worse, one man is dead and another seriously injured.

The bridge connecting Bagotstown to Republic Park was vandalized some time ago when a selfish, similarly uncaring individual deliberately broke off the cross-piece (over the top of the bridge) which prevented the access of larger, heavy vehicles; another example of indiscipline, selfishness and total disregard for the dangers which could result.

We see several other disgusting signs of this gross indiscipline in the way many drivers use the road.
Maybe this is because so many of them have “bought” their licences or they are just plain uncouth, selfish, you name it.

Few give way when the obstruction is on their side and if they can jump a red light or major road, all the better.

As for the blinking green arrow lights for turning traffic, most drivers seem not to know or care that they should yield to the traffic which has the “solid” green light on the straight-way and if you are in front and stop they have a jolly time getting angry at you and sounding their useless noisy horns. Some traffic lights seem to be confusing for some drivers.

Case in point, the traffic going north on Vlissengen Road and turning right into Homestretch Avenue – many drivers seem to feel they can go ahead and turn when the straight arrow turns green and they seem unaware (or do not care) that the traffic traveling south also has the green light.

A similar situation occurs at Sheriff and Duncan Streets. At this intersection, many drivers going north on Sheriff Street do not seem to realise that if you are not turning right into Duncan Street you should go in the left/westerly lane.

Another problem occurs at the Vlissengen/North Road intersection where mini-buses particularly (trying to avoid the traffic lights in part of Regent Street) “bore” their way into the line of traffic, breaking the line to jump the light and get onto North Road.

The traffic light at this same intersection also confuses drivers turning right into North Road as there is a period when it goes blank, then the red light comes on and then the turning arrow. The traffic department needs to look at this and correct it.

I also have a grouse with drivers who park blocking the free flow of traffic on the approach to traffic lights, and moreso if you have to turn and you go into the relevant lane only to be blocked by the car of some selfish idiot and don’t expect them to move if they are at the wheel.

The road where this occurs most is on North Road at the Camp Street intersection; cars park on both sides of the road and some even park diagonally right up to the light (whatever happened to 30 feet from the corner????).

Cummings Street (the southern section of the intersection with Middle Street) is another where this occurs and also on Cummings Street at both halves of the intersection with Regent Street.

This problem is also encountered by drivers turning left from Sheriff Street into Campbell Avenue. These are just a few.

Another major nuisance is the driver who feels he’s better than any other and so cannot join the line at a traffic light and wait his turn, so he either goes into the turning lane (thus rudely and illegally blocking the access to this facility of any driver who wants to turn) or dangerously jumps the line, having gauged the length of time left on the counter.

Minibus drivers are the major defaulters in this regard but many private car drivers are also guilty.
Recently a minibus ended up in a trench after a serious accident was caused by the road-hog-of-a-driver trying to jump the line.

The police need to be more vigilant and deal with these errant drivers as many of them see it as a challenge to break the law and have no regard for the serious danger they pose to people’s lives.

Maybe some donor agency should consider funding cameras at major intersections so that the vehicles can be identified and the drivers brought to book.

My sympathy goes out to the relatives of those who have died in these fatal road accidents.

The new law, re the two-beer limit is good but we need to copy the USA and stress the need for designated drivers and friends need to ensure that their drivers are sober or refuse to travel with them. We need to be our brother’s keeper in order to save him and possibly several others.

We all need to take more care and be more considerate and please do not drink (or do drugs) when you have the responsibility of driving a vehicle because you then become a lethal weapon and you may kill not only yourself but also many others.
Paula Alexander

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