Dear Editor,
As the days go by, we are witnessing far more examples of crass, or better yet, hog-like behaviour on our streets than we have become accustomed to seeing in former years.
The decline in discipline has contributed significantly to a drop in the moral fabric of this nation and if our policymakers — our politicians — do not act fast and nip some of these bad practices in the bud, then we are all doomed to fail.
The indiscipline on the road is appalling. Our Government has allowed the taxi drivers and minibus operators to control the streets and dictate how the average man should move about.
Those who drive taxis and minibuses constantly 'bad drive' other users of the road by breaking red lights, stopping suddenly, swinging from lane to lane like calypso dancers, moving off in front of uncoming vehicles with no concern whatsoever for others, and boring into impossible spaces, risking the lives of those they transport and other motorists. They will also stop in the middle of the road, forcing a traffic pile-up.
Then there are the pedal cyclists who continue to ride up the wrong way on roads, also without concern for their own safety.
The decision by past politicians to free up the transport sector to too many private interests has contributed to this bad behaviour. It might be too late to turn back now from private to State control of the transportation system, but the Government must move with haste to clamp down on rowdy road users, particularly those who drive taxis and minibuses.
Regrettably, we are also seeing the re-emergence of another form of indiscipline on the roads, as the windshield wipers are back in business again.
I know that there was a move afoot led by Senior Superintendent of Police Radcliffe Lewis to reduce their activities, but they are at it again — tormenting motorists, especially women. The group that runs amok in the vicinity of the Portia Simpson Miller Square has got completely out of hand.
The police force needs to give SSP Lewis more resources to tackle this problem which, also, could blow out of proportion if it is not addressed urgently.
Kerone Hill
Kingston 6
Hog-like behaviour on the roads
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As the days go by, we are witnessing far more examples of crass, or better yet, hog-like behaviour on our streets than we have become accustomed to seeing in former years.
The decline in discipline has contributed significantly to a drop in the moral fabric of this nation and if our policymakers — our politicians — do not act fast and nip some of these bad practices in the bud, then we are all doomed to fail.
The indiscipline on the road is appalling. Our Government has allowed the taxi drivers and minibus operators to control the streets and dictate how the average man should move about.
Those who drive taxis and minibuses constantly 'bad drive' other users of the road by breaking red lights, stopping suddenly, swinging from lane to lane like calypso dancers, moving off in front of uncoming vehicles with no concern whatsoever for others, and boring into impossible spaces, risking the lives of those they transport and other motorists. They will also stop in the middle of the road, forcing a traffic pile-up.
Then there are the pedal cyclists who continue to ride up the wrong way on roads, also without concern for their own safety.
The decision by past politicians to free up the transport sector to too many private interests has contributed to this bad behaviour. It might be too late to turn back now from private to State control of the transportation system, but the Government must move with haste to clamp down on rowdy road users, particularly those who drive taxis and minibuses.
Regrettably, we are also seeing the re-emergence of another form of indiscipline on the roads, as the windshield wipers are back in business again.
I know that there was a move afoot led by Senior Superintendent of Police Radcliffe Lewis to reduce their activities, but they are at it again — tormenting motorists, especially women. The group that runs amok in the vicinity of the Portia Simpson Miller Square has got completely out of hand.
The police force needs to give SSP Lewis more resources to tackle this problem which, also, could blow out of proportion if it is not addressed urgently.
Kerone Hill
Kingston 6
Hog-like behaviour on the roads
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