Dear Editor,
In recent road travels on the coast from Charity to Springlands, I noticed several potential dangers that could be causes of accidents: parking of vehicles and heavy equipment on the sides or parapets of roads (some even protruding onto the driving lane of the highway); sun-drying of daan (paddy); and burning of chafe (or dried vegetation) on or near the roadway (with billowing black smoke blinding drivers).
There were near-accidents, evoking fear of driving on the roads. In fact, I was informed that, over the years, many accidents — some fatal — have already occurred as a result of the preceding related causes; and those accidents have caused too many lives and limbs to be lost.
Some form of control is needed, and this may require Government as well as traffic police intervention. In Guyana, there are no hazard alerts of danger ahead. This should be mandatory, or a fine should be imposed for this violation.
Owners of vehicles and heavy equipment, and farmers also, need to be considerate of others using the roadway and display utmost regard for life. They should exercise some common sense when parking equipment, or drying daan, or burning garbage. They cannot occupy large stretches of the roadway (especially in residential areas) to dry grains, and they cannot burn waste near roadways; because it creates a situation in which drivers cannot see in front of them, and this leads to head-on collisions.
Also, when parking vehicles and equipment — cars, trucks, buses, minivans, combines, ploughs, tractors, trailers, draglines, and other heavy equipment – they should ensure that no part thereof extends onto a parapet or roadway, as this can constitute a fatal accident waiting to happen.
In cases when accidents have occurred because of any of the foregoing reasons, the person or persons responsible for setting the stage for the accident to happen by engaging in any of the foregoing practices should be charged and/or sued for contributing to the cause of an accident. These cases should be used as examples or precedents set to prevent potential disasters.
In the US, police are known to have levelled manslaughter charges and/or fines on owners of parked vehicles if it was determined that the manner in which their vehicles or equipment were parked contributed to the cause of accidents (resulting in loss of life, property, limbs, etc). It is known as reckless parking and depraved indifference to potential loss of life, and the charges have been justified.
In the US, heavy equipment cannot be parked on roadways, except when construction is ongoing; and they have to be kept in a secluded (gated) area where they do not pose any possibility of causing an accident. The same should be done in Guyana, since land space is not an issue. Also when not in use, heavy vehicles should mandatorily be kept off the road.
Also, in the US, when there are hazards on the road, there are warning signs and bright visors or reflectors attached to the parked equipment or vehicle, so that motorists are forewarned from some distance away. The same can be required in Guyana.
Road construction is also a problem, with no signs being erected warning of holes or trenches or (heavy) equipment ahead on the road. High visibility safety materials (apparel) should be posted on the equipment to alert motorists to slow down and be aware of the danger.
With traffic congestion steadily increasing, people need to become safety conscious and use some amount of common sense to prevent potential accidents.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram
