By Kerwin Eloise
At recent press briefings the Prime Minister, Philip J Pierre has taken on the demeanor of Peter Finch’s Howard Beale from the Oscar-winning classic Network. Inspired by the “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore,” from the movie Network, the Prime Minister has come out strongly against two silent killers, reckless driving and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD.
The prime minister’s quest to address these areas of concern is admirable as they are regularly overlooked due to the burden of personal responsibility often attached to these actions. Whilst the PM ridiculed the common action of placing the blame at the feet of the political leadership of a country for all its failures, there is merit. Much more can be done on both an individual, communal or national level to ameliorate the issues.
As a daily bus taker and part time driver it regularly befuddles me the risks persons take on the road, from speeding in blind corners, to overtaking vehicles then either getting off the main road or stopping to drop off a passenger just seconds later. Motorists regularly see the horn as a way to ‘hail’ their pardners despite its dual use to warn oncoming traffic or pedestrians of potential hazards (low visibility, blind spots, emergency situations) or warnings of imminent danger. Along the southwestern highway from Colombette up to Belvedere and beyond the stupefying slow repair of the retaining walls and one lane traffic caused by NAMALCO is another contributor to the problems on our road. Drivers regularly exercise ego over sense in those situations and posture for their passengers and viewers to illustrate how macho they are.
The recklessness of drivers, in particular those who may have learned independently and thus without the safety skills usually taught by driving associations, is regularly a key reason for the carnage and mayhem seen on the road. Furthermore, a lack of adherence to the signs and warnings posted alongside the road is a critical failure on the individual level by drivers and their passengers on the whole.
However, there is a concerning lack of energy on police to combat the impunity with which the laws of the road are treated. Perhaps because they too are the ones who continue to bend and break the laws and thus see little to no reassuring the public that they will safeguard them.
During high traffic events, vehicles are frequently parked any and everywhere without a care for the driver who we frequently call lanmen won who may lack the spatial experience to navigate the roads.
Cyclists are frequently seen riding irresponsibly along the road, many are repeatedly without helmets or with accompanying pillion riders who lack that level of security themselves. Many of the riders are repeatedly rumored to be operating without registration or proper license. One wonders why riders take such risk when man versus machine often has such a high casualty rate for the rider. Is it a performative issue? Is it the thrill of the ride, the unrealized risks?
But it is not just these usual culprits who are guilty. Drivers on the whole are rather glib with how they treat the roads and other drivers, even their passengers. Children sit in the laps of parents, or in the front unbuckled, car seats more a fictitious suggestion than anything else.
So, perhaps we were harsh to put it all at the feet of the government and demand they come up with the ways and means to deal with it? Philip may have been right after all.
(Stay tuned for Pt2 where we look at COPD)