Dear Editor,
On December 11th this year, it will be seven years since we lost our dear friend and sister Dr Desrey Caesar-Fox in a terrible and unnecessary road accident. Just this week I attended the funeral of Ms Rockliffe whose life was snuffed out clearly by the terrible decision of a driver to make a U turn on a major road, something that is against the law. And as I reflect on my own mortality and on a very near miss accident with a massive truck (GVV 5748) last Sunday on the Mabura road, the driver of which was taking a turn at top speed and lost some amount of control, I think every day about how can we stop the madness on the roads. For the past week, I have had cause to be using the East Bank road, Linden Highway and the East Coast road, and the insane stupidity that I continue to see from drivers is astounding. Many do not respect the double lines (for no overtaking) and many including big trucks are speeding even around Georgetown. Really infuriating are those
mainly taxi drivers who cannot wait their turn at stop lights and feel that they need to drive up ‒ usually on the right side of the road ‒ and park and just pull off in front of a line of waiting vehicles when the light changes (check the cameras on Sandy Babb and Vlissengen Roads for many of these incidents).
I have always felt that once you become a driver you have a licence to kill. A vehicle is a lethal weapon and we need to seriously start addressing this issue. The East Bank road in particular has had too many accidents in the past two years and this also stems from the poor organization of traffic flows.
What I also think we are witnessing is the fact that many drivers simply do not understand how to use the roads because they have not bothered to do the theory classes and exams but have bought their licences. There is too much ignorance for this issue to be blamed on anything else.
I would be grateful if the following recommendations could be considered:
- All traffic police should wear visibility vests; yesterday travelling on the East Coast road, there was a policeman whom I saw at the last moment directing traffic.
- More dangerous bend signage should be mounted on East Bank and East Coast roads; perhaps even in Parika, Berbice and Essequibo as well.
- An extensive public awareness campaign should be launched on safe road use using all the media. I hope that the corporate sector and NGOs would be willing to join this cause. This campaign must be continuous and not only once a year during road safety month.
- Camera footage should be seriously scrutinized and people charged. When people feel it in their pockets, they adhere to rules.
- More cameras should be mounted around the city and even on the East Bank and East Coast roads. The priority would be the East Bank road.
- A fair system should be put in place so that citizens can report traffic offences. We can use social media, the general media, hotlines, etc.
- All drivers aged 50 and under (despite social standing and position in society) should attend a training session on safe road use, including road signage, and the five Cs. I personally would be happy for a refresher.
Yours faithfully,
Raquel Thomas-Caesar
