Dear Editor,
Unfortunately, we live in a land where indiscipline permeates different areas of our daily life. The roads are one such area.
Unless a group of policemen are visible, two lanes quickly becomes three. Driving at breakneck speed in the opposite lane has become the norm; and lines in the road, whether broken or straight, seem not to mean anything. The stoplights are just coloured metal objects hanging above the road and amber and red have the same meaning as green. In fact, red seems to have more importance than green. Pedestrians are also in the mix, putting their lives in further jeopardy by apparently not knowing what a red hand means.
I could go on and on but I would really like to bring a specific issue to your attention. Those who live in the Havendale or Red Hills road area know that it is a pain in the mornings to travel along Knightsdale Drive and then to go onto Meadowbrook Avenue heading in the direction of Pricesmart.
Last week was the worst that I have experienced it. My wife travelled via Barbican and she reached to work approximately half an hour earlier than I did. I should state that she works in the same area that I do. It is my general observation that the bottleneck always occurs by St Richard's Primary School. I can state this as, once I pass the school, there is no traffic; I am able to drive freely and unhindered.
I heard on the radio a couple weeks ago that there would be an increased police presence on the roads and that the traffic division would be bolstered starting immediately to assist with the increased volume of traffic on the roads during the holiday season. I must be quite frank in saying that I am yet to notice a difference.
As a school is present on the corridor, motorists will need to enter and leave the compound while others are using the pedestrian crossing to access the school. The school, therefore, would need to ensure that they have enough space to allow for the traffic without causing a backup onto the main road.
I should mention that as I passed the school the following day a police van approached and the policemen passed the school gate and stopped at Debco cleaners, about 500m down the road from the school, waving traffic forward. I appreciated their presence as their flashing lights helped to restrain the taximen, who apparently have a special licence and whose work or meetings are more important than ours, so they overtake and bore into the regular lanes.
As we close out this year, I am asking the traffic police to become more strategic in their operations. In addition, I am also asking my fellow citizens to be more courteous on the road. It is not always about who is ahead, but how we can help each other to make Jamaica a better place.
Kirk Wilson
Kingston 19
kirk.wil02@gmail.com
I'm waiting in unnecessary traffic
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Unfortunately, we live in a land where indiscipline permeates different areas of our daily life. The roads are one such area.
Unless a group of policemen are visible, two lanes quickly becomes three. Driving at breakneck speed in the opposite lane has become the norm; and lines in the road, whether broken or straight, seem not to mean anything. The stoplights are just coloured metal objects hanging above the road and amber and red have the same meaning as green. In fact, red seems to have more importance than green. Pedestrians are also in the mix, putting their lives in further jeopardy by apparently not knowing what a red hand means.
I could go on and on but I would really like to bring a specific issue to your attention. Those who live in the Havendale or Red Hills road area know that it is a pain in the mornings to travel along Knightsdale Drive and then to go onto Meadowbrook Avenue heading in the direction of Pricesmart.
Last week was the worst that I have experienced it. My wife travelled via Barbican and she reached to work approximately half an hour earlier than I did. I should state that she works in the same area that I do. It is my general observation that the bottleneck always occurs by St Richard's Primary School. I can state this as, once I pass the school, there is no traffic; I am able to drive freely and unhindered.
I heard on the radio a couple weeks ago that there would be an increased police presence on the roads and that the traffic division would be bolstered starting immediately to assist with the increased volume of traffic on the roads during the holiday season. I must be quite frank in saying that I am yet to notice a difference.
As a school is present on the corridor, motorists will need to enter and leave the compound while others are using the pedestrian crossing to access the school. The school, therefore, would need to ensure that they have enough space to allow for the traffic without causing a backup onto the main road.
I should mention that as I passed the school the following day a police van approached and the policemen passed the school gate and stopped at Debco cleaners, about 500m down the road from the school, waving traffic forward. I appreciated their presence as their flashing lights helped to restrain the taximen, who apparently have a special licence and whose work or meetings are more important than ours, so they overtake and bore into the regular lanes.
As we close out this year, I am asking the traffic police to become more strategic in their operations. In addition, I am also asking my fellow citizens to be more courteous on the road. It is not always about who is ahead, but how we can help each other to make Jamaica a better place.
Kirk Wilson
Kingston 19
kirk.wil02@gmail.com
I'm waiting in unnecessary traffic
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