Indiscipline and Carnage on the Roads

The carnage on the roads has climbed steadily since the beginning of the year, through some dreadful accidents, at times causing multiple deaths, almost as though there is no restraint on the roads and no respect for life.  We are now into the long vacation period with many new, inexperienced drivers taking to the road.  Each year some young person’s life is lost due to reckless driving by one or another party.

Since early 2010, a series of measures have been introduced via law: the introduction of the Breathalyser, making the wearing of seatbelts compulsory, making the use of hand-held cell phones while driving illegal and the presence of traffic wardens on the nation’s roads.  Yet, one of the basic ways speeding is monitored in other countries is by the use of radar timing devices.  Once again, the Chamber makes an urgent call for the amendment of legislation to allow for such radar timing devices so that the police can charge motorists more efficiently and reliably for excessive speed.

Persons who drive without valid drivers’ permits or with inadequate driving instruction constitute another problem.  It is an unfortunate fact that some are able to “buy” their licences without ever passing a driving exam. To address this, the Licensing Division needs to be cleaned up as priority.

It is the responsibility of those in authority to respond urgently and effectively to the common violations of law on our roadways and the situations which give rise to them.  Notwithstanding all this however, the point must be made that we as a people have a responsibility for ourselves which we totally disregard when we drive on the streets recklessly.  Not only do we disregard our own right to life, but we also disregard other road users’ right to life and to the safe unfettered use of the streets.  We have become an indisciplined society, where we always feel that we can defy the law, and to some extent, even tempt fate.

While we call for more urgent and effective policing on the streets, we must also be realistic that the Police cannot be everywhere at all times, and we have a responsibility to look out for ourselves and for each other as well.  The right-thinking people of the nation must lead the way and set the example, and self-police as much as possible.  Therefore, if we go to a fete or a celebration together, we must not allow our friends to drive if they are clearly unfit to do so.  If we are in a car and the driver is speeding, we must caution him or her and insist on slowing down.

We are a very fortunate nation, blessed with natural resources, a strategic location, ideal climate and productive soil, and intelligent people.  We just have to look to the terrible strife in some other parts of the world to understand how lucky we are.  We would be flying in the face of this by destroying it with a total breakdown in discipline.

Let us re-commit to our national watchwords: Discipline, Production and Tolerance.