The anomalies of the Canje road

Jan 29, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
It will be appreciated if you would publish this letter for the attention of the Police Traffic Department.
The speed limit on the road in East Canje, Berbice, is 50 K.P.H. and based on the following I wish to ask the Authority that fixes speed limits to kindly advise on the rationale used to fix the speed limit at 50 K.P.H.
Canje is a rural area with no manufacturing industry, except Guysuco, Rose Hall Estate. There are no businesses except retail shops located in the villages; there are six primary schools, miles apart and one secondary school. The road is 22 feet wide with five feet asphalted shoulder on each side, a total of 32 feet then earth parapet so there is no cramped situation and no congestion on the road.
Between Gangaram and New Forest where the road ends there are seven residences scattered along the two- mile stretch of road.
A comparison with other areas will show that fixing the speed at 50 K.P.H. is unrealistic and inconsistent.
For Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice the speed limit is 80 K.P.H. but everyone passing through there would know that after 7.30 am it is difficult to drive above 30/40 K.P.H. The entire West Coast Berbice is 80K.P.H. East Coast Demerara from Cove and John to Plaisance is 65 K.P H ; this stretch of road has areas where the road is not as wide as Canje; some parts have no shoulders and in addition are much more busy and congested. Locations like Melanie Damishana, Enmore, Annandale, Lusignan, Mon Repos all the way to Better Hope
So, I ask, if these areas, where you have to crawl, are 65 K.P.H., why is Canje 50 K.P.H.
Of course, the traffic policemen are making a kill on the Canje road, as the road, being free flowing, motorists unconsciously exceed 50 K.P.H.
Imagine at 5.30 am when there is hardly anyone on the road, the policemen are there, hiding behind parked vehicles or shop fronts, shooting down motorist. Many times the figure they show you are not what you have been driving at, but there is nothing you can do.
Motorists coming from the Corentyne or over the Berbice Bridge have to move down from 80 K.P.H. to 50 K.P.H. as soon as they hit Canje.
Many from Georgetown and elsewhere are presented with gifts of traffic tickets as soon as they enter Canje on their way to New Amsterdam as the road, not being busy they don’t expect 50 K.P.H. and are caught unaware and there is no conspicuous sign to advise them.
A businessman from Canje was given a ticket for travelling at 51 K.P.H., so instead of watching the road you have to watch your speedometer and hope you don’t hit anyone as it is easy to pass 50 K.P.H. on a road that is free flowing.
I am asking that if there is a reasonable rationale for it being 50 K.P.H., share it, so one will appreciate why he has to drive at 50 K.P.H. and our overseas friends will not say we are a backward country; but if there is no reasonable rationale, then review it, 65 K.P.H. is more practical. Even the traffic officers agree but say that they don’t fix it, they only enforce it and that its gazetted.
If the situation demands that you drive at 20/30 K.P.H., you do so, but why be forced to drive below 50 K.P.H. when there is little or no traffic.
Esplanade is a one way road with two (2) lane traffic, pedestrians do not use this road even during the day, yet it is 50 K.P.H. Why? Of course the police are there hiding behind the fence of Oldendorff Carriers Inc.
The much more busy areas of Fryish and Albion are 65 K.P.H. but Tain, like Canje, is 50 K.P.H. Why?
It will be appreciated if the statistics of tickets issued for the year 2013 in East Berbice showing tickets issued in the 50 K.P.H. zones against those issued in the 80 K.P.H. zones could be published, it may make for interesting reading.
Another matter is that on the Corentyne there are some bridges where you are required to stop before driving over. It is baffling. These bridges are normal two- lane bridges; they are not under repairs, not located on turns, and have no blind spots. I don’t think that there is any other bridge in the country where you are required to stop before crossing.
Can the Authorities say why?Iif not reasonable then remove the stop signs.
Mohamed Akeel

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The anomalies of the Canje road

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