Please pay attention to children at pedestrian crossings

Dear Editor,

I travel every day along the Railway Embankment Road to get to work in Georgetown.  Along the way I observe all the things which constitute the daily living of life here in Guyana.  The stray animals wandering aimlessly and dangerously in the path of vehicles,  women hanging out clothes, men smoking at the roadside, workers waiting patiently and anxiously in the early morning heat for minibuses and lastly children, little children making their way to their respective schools.  I see them waiting on one side of the road hoping to cross to the other side, their little faces pinched with concentration as they look from left to right, hoping to catch a lull in the traffic, hoping that someone will stop to let them cross the road.

More often than not no one stops.  I have made a valiant effort to do so although I must admit there are times when I am travelling too fast to attempt a sudden stop.  I always feel badly about it.  These little children have their own angels, they must do for I simply do not know how they manage to avoid the dangers of speeding vehicles, overtaking at pedestrian crossings and generally the mayhem of the road.

I am appealing to all drivers, not just those who travel on the Railway Embankment road, to pay attention to the children.  They are trying to get to school on time, they are trying to cope with an adult world where children are often overlooked.  So please see them, see them and stop and remember when you do to put on your hazard lights and stick your arm out to indicate to the chap behind you that he needs to slow down and stop too.

Yours faithfully,
Nadia Sagar