I think it’s fair to say that our accidents have been way high in the past couple of months and March is showing up as the worst in my view in years. Add to that the increase in vehicles bursting into flames whilst in use and you cannot help but wonder, what is the RGPF Traffic Department (and Transport Commission if that really exist) thinking, planning, and strategising to combat this unwarranted and unwanted new statistic for our country.
I read discussions on social media about the “new drivers” and their lack of understanding of driving, lack of defensive driving skills, indecision and jolt responses to situations whilst driving, significant road rage, no one wants to wait their turn, lack of or no use of initiative on the part of Police Officers/Wardens, time to return to learners having to learn on manual transmission vehicles in order to obtain a driver’s license etc.
There are even suggestions to seriously look at the number of vehicles coming on to the road compared to the very few coming off the road and possibly having an annual quota for imports.
But, to me, and in my observation as a driver, the Traffic Department of the RGPF is the same as it was donkey years ago with only noticeable difference, the only thing they know today and only thing they know to do today is to have in their hand a Charge Book as their authority and their understanding (possibly) training too of “Protect and Serve.”
Look at the South of the island on any given day and tell me how they “Serve” during peak periods for traffic. Arms folded, chatting away and when attentive, it’s all and only about hoping to “catch you doing something wrong”, one of the new phrases I’ve coined for them.
They RARELY assist with the traffic flow in taking charge as persons try to bully their way through ahead of others or by regulating lanes even when they have right of way or even, as a novel new one for them, regulate how persons cross on pedestrians’ crossings by not letting willy nilly, every sole to strut across just because they at the crossing. Take charge of when the traffic should be stopped when you have 4-5 persons waiting on either side, as an example.
So the question is, what is the strategy for the accidents and the road rage and the traffic flow, the day-long “permanent” parking of vehicles on critical by-roads and official bus stops and single and single file crossing at pedestrian crossings and asking Flow/Digicel to assist in information dissemination on road spillages/landslides/road breakages/serious accidents etc. and in general, the use of initiative during “Beats”? When would the Police High Command set up a “War Room on Accidents”?
We have a new Acting COP and hopefully, just maybe, he’ll try a few new things than use his acting time to be the same ole but given history here, I won’t hold my breath especially as we learned that the head of the same traffic department is to be promoted soon. What a rock!!!
Mr. Annoyed