EDITORIAL

On any given day any motorist driving on Barbados’ roads is likely to see a pedestrian, and while there are provisions made in several areas for these persons to get safely from one side of the road to the other, there are also areas that are lacking as it relates to pedestrian crossings.

 

It is some of these areas that we believe it is important to draw attention to today, and humbly suggest that the relevant authorities look at seriously, with a view of putting suitable solutions in place as a matter of urgency.

Certainly, pedestrian safety is a concern that should be shared by all Barbadians, for even those who own vehicles become pedestrians at some point in time. Many of those same persons have, we are certain, witnessed or themselves been involved in near misses, as persons try to cross two or sometimes four lanes of traffic on the highway without the assistance of a pedestrian crossing or even traffic lights. This cannot be allowed to continue, as it could very well result in persons being seriously injured or even killed.

 

Now while Government must be commended for erecting the overpass in the area of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation and Parkinson Memorial School, as well as the traffic lights at the St. Barnabas junction, the pedestrian crossing in the area of the Bridgetown Fish Market, and even the new crossing on the Spring Garden Highway, there are still several areas that require attention being paid to them and as such we hope that the authorities recognise that there is still work to be done. Areas that come to mind include the stretch of road along the ABC Highway between the roundabout where the emancipation statue is located and the Norman A. Niles Roundabout; and between the D’Arcy Scott Roundabout in the busy Warrens area and the traffic lights at Hinds Hill.

 

On any given day motorists travelling in those areas are bound to see adults and children dashing across the highway, trying to get to the other side. This is a dangerous practice on its own, but is made even worse by the jersey barriers in the former area. As a result, too often persons can often be seen straddling the jersey barrier, waiting for a lull in the traffic to make it safely across, but in many respects it is an accident waiting to happen.

 

Now for years there have been calls for pedestrian overpasses or underpasses to be placed at some of these locations and in spite of the criticism levelled at the overpass that was erected at the Pine, we cannot deny that it is a help to persons traversing that area. Indeed then we can see the benefit of giving consideration to creating similar solutions in other areas, because it would ensure that vehicular traffic can move uninterrupted, separate from pedestrians on the busy, fast-paced highways.

 

Admittedly, we know and understand that constructing an overpass or underpass can be quite costly, and while we are cognisant of the argument, one cannot put a price on ensuring the safety of our people. If then such solutions are not possible because of the expense associated with them, then pedestrian crossings operated by traffic lights at these sites must be put in place as a matter of urgency. The fact is that such crossings can save lives.

 

As such, it is hoped that these concerns are not overlooked and that the suggestions put forward are given due consideration and looked on with favour.