Dear Editor,
The government is in the process of a massive road expansion programme, while hundreds, if not thousands, of new vehicles are entering the country seemingly without restraint or control. At the same time, almost every day, serious accidents involving loss of lives are being increasingly reported on our roads is evidence that we are failing as a government to manage the traffic. It has become a public relations nightmare for the government.
Personal Experience
Driving north on the East Bank road in the vicinity of Grove in a slowly moving line of traffic many miles long, not one, but two cars, drove into the back of my vehicle when I was stopped behind the car in front of me, causing considerable damage to my vehicle. One of the cars was found to be actually owned by a government agency but driven uninsured by a driver contracted to the agency. The other car was insured for a maximum payment of $300,000. The estimated cost of damage to my car to my insurance company is just under $1M. However, though I have full insurance coverage, the insurance company imposes a deductible of $500,000. The drivers of both of these cars have been charged and, at the very most, will pay a fine of $30,000 because our traffic laws and the fines and punishment for driving dangerously or recklessly are completely out of date, while the insurance companies are under no obligation to provide compensation for extensive damage.
It is not surprising, therefore, that reckless and dangerous driving continues to prevail without any significant punishment, while safe drivers subjected to this are not protected. It is obvious that the entire system governing the imposition of punishment for reckless and dangerous driving needs to be revised and the obligation for insurance coverage reviewed.
Let me describe my own recent experience driving from Georgetown to New Amsterdam and back and from Georgetown to Parika and back and experienced the following:
• Animals, that is cattle, horses, sheep, goats freely roaming our major highways and grazing untethered alongside roads throughout the country, presenting a clear, present and immediate danger to all motorized traffic.
• On my drive from Georgetown to Parika, I personally encountered, within the first fifteen minutes, the following:
• Motorcycles and cars entering the roundabout with traffic already circling the roundabout. This regularly takes place at both roundabouts at the northern and southern ends of Mandela Avenue.
• Cars undertaking, that is inside of the lefthand lane on the “back road” going west towards the East Bank Road and crossing against the red traffic light.
• Cars stopped, waiting to go straight in the left hand turn lane at the junction site of the back road to the Industrial Site road leading to the East Bank Road.
• A snow cone cart impeding traffic on the right hand lane of the East Bank road highway.
• Four motorcycles, one behind the other, overtaking my car at speed, none of the riders wearing helmets.
• While crossing the Demerara River Bridge going west, five motorcycles with riders wearing no helmets.
• While proceeding on the West Coast Demerara road, cars overtaking while approaching a blind corner, also overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic, forcing oncoming traffic to break to avoid a collision.
• Frequently observed cars with fully tinted windows, passing through roadblocks manned by traffic police.
• On both drives, while driving at the maximum permitted speed limit and, on occasion, slightly over the speed limit, I was frequently passed by other cars well over the speed limit.
On the new Mandela Avenue highway, it is common practice for cars proceeding on the marked lanes for cars to be undertaken by cars on lanes marked for bicycles. On the new Mandela road, it is frequent practice for cars to cross the traffic lights on yellow, just before turning to red.
All of the above traffic offenses are taking place with virtual impunity, often in the presence of the traffic police.
On enquiry, I understand that the procedure for obtaining a Drivers Licence is as follows:
1. Apply for a Drivers Licence at the GRA and collect a book instructing the rules of the road.
2. Take a written multipurpose driving test.
3. When informed that you have passed the written driving test, apply and pay a fee at Eve Leary to undertake a road practical driving test on the road under the supervision of a police officer.
4. Undertake a parking maneuvering exercise between posts under police supervision.
5. With all tests passed, collect the appropriate Driving Licence depending on the vehicle driven during the test, whether motorcycle, car, bus, truck, etc.
Observation
I have, however, investigated this process and found, from personal conversations, that many fully licenced drivers have been able to avoid taking the practical road driving test by bribing police officers and receiving a licence. This means that the obvious result of this practice is that there are some substantial number of drivers on the road who may have never actually driven a motor vehicle before becoming fully licenced.
Possible Solutions
The following are some possible solutions for consideration:
• Appoint a specially trained traffic law enforcement team of officers tasked with ensuring rigid enforcement of all traffic offenses, whether minor or major.
• Utilize cameras to monitor every traffic light and roundabout controlled intersection and enforce charges for every recorded offense.
• Assign a mobile traffic enforcement team to detect and enforce offenses such as parking within the regulated distance from corners, parking on blind corners, parking to obstruct free traffic flow (cars parked opposite each other on narrow roads), exceeding the prescribed speed limit, obstructing right of traffic on turning lanes (parking on a left turn lane only while waiting to go straight) and parking in a prohibited zone.
• Regularly test speed cameras for accuracy to ensure prosecution of speed offenses that cannot be challenged in court for the inaccuracy of the camera.
• Charge for driving and failing to dip headlights in a built-up traffic zone such as within the city and in the face of oncoming traffic.
• Charge for the failure to use indicator lights when turning.
• Charge for failure to stop when approaching a pedestrian crossing with a pedestrian waiting to cross.
• Pedestrians crossing on highways must be equipped with stop and go lights controlled by the pedestrian who wishes to cross.
• Suspend licences for a minimum of one year for third time repeat offenders within any one year.
• Record and statistically monitor the number of traffic offenses charged against offenses actually prosecuted in court.
• Substantially increase fines and sentences for traffic offenses, including suspension of licences.
• Introduce voluntary advanced test for licences earning reduced insurance premiums in collaboration with insurance companies.
• The GRA must ensure against the issuing of driving licences to persons who have not taken and passed a practical road test.
• Introduce the requirement of a public transportation (buses and taxis) driving licence with a minimum age of 21 years.
We are fast heading from an already dangerous and badly managed road traffic situation to much worse, with the introduction of additional roads and new high-speed highways, if steps are not taken now to address this situation.
I have sent this letter to Minister Robeson Benn, Capt. Gerald Gouveia, Mr. Clifton Hicken and Mr. Dennis Stephen.
Yours sincerely,
Kit Nascimento
