The bad outweighs the good

Nov 17, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
Anyone traveling in an East Coast (44) minibus between 9:00 hrs-15:00 hrs will confirm that the bus usually breaks all speed limits set and usually has loud music which is turned down when policemen are seen or when passing a police station.
Overloading is common (geh she a squeeze deh, somebody coming out just now). As soon as one “squeeze” come out another one coming in.
I am sure that the policemen are aware of this. Everybody else knows this. The danger here is obvious. Loud music is usually accompanied by aggressive driving; ignoring the comfort of the passengers; and general disregard for all safety rules.
It some times indicates that drivers and conductors are “high” on alcohol or drugs. Minibuses compete heavily for passengers pulling in and out suddenly, overtaking on the inside and double lines and generally running down each other for passengers. This attitude, however you look at it, shows a total disregard for the welfare of passengers traveling in the bus.
Are these drivers mentally equipped to have the heavy responsibility of taking care of fourteen human lives in their care? I would say a blatant “No”. Many more people will die on the roads bringing grief to many families. The police, who are supposed to maintain law and order “appear” unable to stop these tyrannical drivers.
Sudden “speed gun” exercises and overload checks only serve to enrich some persons.(as one friend puts it).Time has proven that these exercises have failed to have any lasting impact on curbing the situation. The road carnage continues. Fathers, mothers, children and babies are killed by unfit drivers spurred on by passenger crazy conductors.
When caught drivers are angry and if having to pay the fine ($7,000) these reckless personalities sees this as a mere trifle, quickly visualizing that a few quick trips along with heavy overloading will speedily refill their pockets.
These drivers seem to know when policemen are out and “wink” each other with their bright lights to warn their comrades that policemen are on the roads.
This certainly is not funny. I’ve seen an eight-month pregnant woman killed by a reckless speeding driver. Her parent is literally dying of grief. We never seem to feel the pain and hurt until it reaches our door.
A speeding ticket does nothing to reform a psychopathic driver, a driver that has no feeling of concern for the human lives in his care. I suggest that these drivers along with the conductors when caught be also given compulsory counseling. They must also be made to pay the cost of this along with their fines. Their minds must be trained to undertake the responsibility of having to take care of human lives.
These drivers need to understand tolerance, and respect for other drivers, pedestrians and passengers. There are many Government and non-Government agencies that have the capacity to deliver this type of training.
Having said all of this we must not fail to compliment the few good, mature drivers on the road. “Keep setting the example for those murderous drivers on the road!”
B.Shivdas

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