Dear Christine,
In the last few weeks I have heard on the radio on three occasions, people using the expression “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”.
Of course if you have it you can eat it. The correct expression is: “You can’t eat your cake and have it too” (when you have finished eating it, you won’t have it).
Secondly, I hears people on the radio saying “good evening” when it is 3 p.m. and “good afternoon” when it is dark outside. Up to 5 p.m. it is “good afternoon” and after 5 p.m. it is “good evening”.
And lastly, people in Barbados do not know how to drive on a dual carriageway (for example, on the ABC Highway).
When there are two lanes going in one direction you should drive in the left lane. The right lane is for overtaking. After you have overtaken a vehicle in the left lane, you should return to the left lane.
If the left lane is full of traffic you can remain in the right lane, but you should drive at the speed limit (60 or 80 kilometres per hour, as posted). This will prevent traffic behind you from getting frustrated and angry.
It is quite wrong to overtake a vehicle in the right lane, on the left of it. If a driver is in the right lane and driving under the speed limit, stay behind him or her and sit on your horn. S/he must move over to the left to let you pass.
In England, if a vehicle is ahead of you in the right lane and you wish to pass, what you do is flash your headlights, as people in England do not use their horns except for serious matters, and the person ahead will move into the left lane to allow you to pass, on the right.
Hope this will help in preventing accidents here.
– A Dear Christine Reader
Dear Reader,
Your letter is timely. As I drive in Barbados each day, I am appalled at how drivers (and pedestrians) use the roads.
In fact, this whole matter of overtaking on the highway is a serious one. Drivers “jump” in and out of line like it’s the right thing to do.
I try very hard to avoid the highway and I believe that many accidents would be avoided if there was a clear understanding of how individuals should drive.
Another matter of concern is drivers approaching the highway attempting to overtake the car to their left or right.
It is madness and it is also silly that drivers should beat each other to roundabouts. And what is it with some male drivers who believe that a woman has no right to overtake them?
They do what I call a “come back” and would try their utmost to retaliate by overtaking that woman, even if they put their lives at risk. I’ve experienced and seen this many times.
Thanks so much for taking the time to draw each of these matters to the public’s attention.
– CHRISTINE
