Dear Editor,
As a nation we regularly emulate and praise many of the policies, practices and philosophies of First-World nations. In particular, we are grand imitators of the United States.The time has now come for us to mirror their recognition of children's rights by instituting school zones for traffic. Our children's futures is at risk, and something has to be done to stem the woeful tide.
I live in the Mona area and recognise the immense difficulty that Mona High School and Jamaica College students face in crossing our busy roadways. No one can deny that the traffic on our roadways has increased immensely over recent years, but unfortunately our drivers have become more aggressive and are practising less and less good driving habits.
With our economic conditions worsening, it is hardly likely that the mental stability of our drivers will improve. So our National Road Safety Council will need to be proactive and institute measures which will ensure the safety of our children.
Both Mona and Old Hope roads have frequently speeding motorists who put our children's lives at risk. Checks could be made to ascertain the number of accidents which have taken place along these corridors within the vicinity of these schools. We cannot wait for one of these children to die before we take action.
In addition, the children need to be taught the proper use of the pedestrian crossing. I do not support the holding up of one's hand to cross the roadway, because some persons think that once their hand is up they are guaranteed safe passage. They also need to realise that extra care must be taken to cross the road when it is wet, because one does not have to be driving fast to cause a crash. Safety is a must. Too many lives are being needlessly lost in our country and we can make the difference if we do what is necessary.
Identifying school zones would help to curtail speeding as well as garner some necessary income from those who insist on breaking the law; and above all else, they could save the lives of our children.
Dame Griffiths
St Andrew
garden_gurl1@yahoo.com
School zones are a must
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As a nation we regularly emulate and praise many of the policies, practices and philosophies of First-World nations. In particular, we are grand imitators of the United States.The time has now come for us to mirror their recognition of children's rights by instituting school zones for traffic. Our children's futures is at risk, and something has to be done to stem the woeful tide.
I live in the Mona area and recognise the immense difficulty that Mona High School and Jamaica College students face in crossing our busy roadways. No one can deny that the traffic on our roadways has increased immensely over recent years, but unfortunately our drivers have become more aggressive and are practising less and less good driving habits.
With our economic conditions worsening, it is hardly likely that the mental stability of our drivers will improve. So our National Road Safety Council will need to be proactive and institute measures which will ensure the safety of our children.
Both Mona and Old Hope roads have frequently speeding motorists who put our children's lives at risk. Checks could be made to ascertain the number of accidents which have taken place along these corridors within the vicinity of these schools. We cannot wait for one of these children to die before we take action.
In addition, the children need to be taught the proper use of the pedestrian crossing. I do not support the holding up of one's hand to cross the roadway, because some persons think that once their hand is up they are guaranteed safe passage. They also need to realise that extra care must be taken to cross the road when it is wet, because one does not have to be driving fast to cause a crash. Safety is a must. Too many lives are being needlessly lost in our country and we can make the difference if we do what is necessary.
Identifying school zones would help to curtail speeding as well as garner some necessary income from those who insist on breaking the law; and above all else, they could save the lives of our children.
Dame Griffiths
St Andrew
garden_gurl1@yahoo.com
School zones are a must
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