Dear Editor,
The Mafia who said “every second a fool is born” were surely on to something. It hurts to see the tragedies that are caused because of the dumb things that people do, and the innocent have to suffer or even pay the ultimate price – loss of life − for it all. But somehow, most times, by some mysterious twist, these nitwits escape without a scratch. Friday gone, October 10, marked one year since that fatal accident on the Linden highway in the vicinity of Amelia’s Ward – the worst in the history of the town, where ten lives were lost, all because of rank stupidity.
Less than two weeks before that accident I wrote a letter captioned ‘Our roads have been transferred into killing fields’ (KN Sept 27) but sad to say we have continued along this very path. Would you believe that on Friday, October 17, just seven days apart, around the very same time, close to that very spot, a truck, which we will refer to as an army truck apparently on its way to Georgetown, was driving without lights, and someone in it was shining a torchlight for visibility. Yes! I was in a bus coming from Georgetown; most of the passengers in the bus only became aware when the bus gave a sudden jerk and the driver pulled more to the corner. Would you believe further, that this ‘nut’ of a driver was driving fast and attempting to overtake? Yes! Is it possible that a driver can be that dumb? This is why I need to repeat the need for some form of illumination for the highway; that bushes, tall trees be cleared away deeper down along both sides; and that drivers, passengers, commuters and residents upon observing these potential dangers should make an effort to inform the police, who somehow don’t even see this lawlessness. But still, this is clearly not an issue for the police alone; they can only do so much and no more. We the people, drivers/commuters, are the ones to enforce safety; we are the ones killing ourselves. I’ll bet pennies to pins that we will not see any positive letting up of this lawless behaviour; not until those found guilty of crass recklessness are banned for life or jailed – maybe only then will we see any improvement.
It is my take that over 80% of the accidents that have occurred on the highway involved trucks/timber trucks, yet they continue to drive recklessly at night without proper illumination, parking without lights, driving with a one beam headlamp and no reflectors.
Thus there is need for a relentless campaign and stern action to be taken in relation to these vehicles and mini-bus drivers; the mindless madness that one sees some drivers doing would leave you with mouth agape. But we seem to forget all too quickly − a big flare-up and emotionalism whenever a smash-up occurs, then by the time the dead is/are buried, it’s all forgotten.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
