EDITORIAL: Road safety a priority

There are some people who are resistant to change, but despite this, change will happen and as our infrastructure develops, there is a greater need to adapt in order to facilitate the enhancements that come with progress. Take, for example, the area of traffic management, specifically issues that deal with drivers and the use of our busy highways. A complete overhaul of driving and licensing procedures is required and several recommendations have recently been made on what aspects should be updated.

Barbados’ road network has been upgraded significantly over the past two decades. The ABC Highway, over the last 30 years, has completely transformed the landscape and has, to some extent, driven the expansion of the road network that now accommodates increased levels of vehicular traffic. Since then, some traffic regulations have been amended and others introduced to improve the flow of traffic. Additionally, there has been the introduction of double lanes on sections from the Garfield Sobers Roundabout to Darcy Scott Roundabout, with three exit lanes at roundabouts for at least 10 years. Some people, in their ‘accustomed’ knowledge of the operation of the highway, also approached it with the view that they can pour ‘old wine into new casks’ – they are of the impression that some of the older rules of secondary roads are still applicable to the evolving highway. Also, from Warrens to the Redman’s Village traffic lights, the highway has now been expanded into two lanes on both sides with a roundabout to ease traffic congestion.

These constitute major changes and we are not satisfied that enough has been done on a continuous basis to ensure that drivers are informed of the new procedures, or that having been informed, there is compliance. It seems clear that this burgeoning problem needs to be tackled at the source. Clearly some Barbadians are unaccustomed to driving on a multi-lane highway and therefore education on its use must be revamped because at this time it is essential.

Driving instructors are the first line of defense. If they are not certified and registered, there can be no guarantee that students are always being taught correct highway usage and codes. They need to be held to a standard, to achieve certification.

On the other hand, the driving test itself will always need to be brought up to date to verify that all aspects of the current highway code are being observed by new drivers.

Further, we in Barbados need to rethink how we approach driving. For far too long, some drivers have been taking chances with their own and other people’s lives with some of the decisions that they make whilst on the roads. In this vein, it is necessary to point out there is proof that texting while driving is particularly dangerous due to the fact that it is impossible to safely manoeuvre a vehicle and focus on typing messages at the same time.

In the US, while all states do not ban the use of cell phones outright, they all adhere to distracted driving ordinances, but where the action of phone calls might not be considered a criminal act once one is using a hand-free device, texting is banned in most states period.

Similarly, in the UK, it is illegal to drive a vehicle or ride a motorcycle while using a hand-held mobile phone. This law extends to the use of devices that can access the Internet, using a hand-held phone while supervising a learner driver or rider, and prosecution of employers if they ask an employee to make or receive calls while driving.

One should always bear in mind that change will no doubt be met with the usual resistance, along with abundant discussion, but adjustments are inevitable, and once approved, should be strictly enforced to bring some semblance of sanity to our roads.