IN ADDRESSING the issue of speeding drivers and reckless driving in general, I think public education and sensitisation is always a commendable and necessary strategy.
The effectiveness of renaming public roadways as a psychological ploy to change mindset is dubious.
I think the introduction of certain infrastructural features would be a more practical approach to saving lives.
Thus light controlled walkways and overpasses and the like would be a better way to go.
It is puzzling that the Spring Garden Highway has a had a long horrid history of road fatalities, many occurring under similar circumstances dating to within weeks of its completion more than 25 weeks ago, and little has been done to facilitate the safe passage of people from the Deacons area across to Brandons Beach.
Incidentally, one existing pedestrian crossing, the placement of which may need to be reevaluated, is the one just in front of the CBC.
The road in that area is fairly winding so it is difficult to determine what would be a better location. Maybe that section of road needs to be widened.
As it stands the crossing has no lights unlike the one further north, and a pedestrian has to rely on the goodwill and vigilance of drivers hurtling across that carriageway to make their way across.
Right now, the eastern side of the crossing is obscured by foliage which may block the view of southbound drivers as they approach the bend located just a few feet north of the crossing. So some debushing needs to be done urgently.
Furthermore, I was walking near the same crossing on one occasion and was in time to see a car stopped suddenly in order to allow a pedestrian to cross, and another car came rushing up and crashed into it.
I was under the impression since both were speeding, neither driver was able to effectively respond to the changing road conditions and probably did not pay attention to the existing road signage which would have alerted them to the impending crossing.
With our roads being more congested with vehicular traffic, effective education strategies and traffic management programmes have to be combined with careful road planning that meets the contemporary needs of pedestrians, pedal-cyclists and other non-motor traffic, as well as motor vehicular drivers.
Unfortunately, accidents will happen from time to time, but I also believe that many that occur on our roads happen because road users have not yet developed an etiquette and “road sense” that keeps pace with the rapid physical development our network has undergone over the years.
RANDY BATSON
