We need the new Motor Vehicle Act urgently

I just read in one of the daily newspapers, the very sad account of the nation’s latest road traffic accident. This time, it involved a husband and father from Barrackpore. He was helping a stranded driver, whose right front tyre blew out when the driver of a silver Nissan Wingroad drove into the pair, pinning them to a wrecker.

Unfortunately, the Barrackpore man died on the scene. I heard that the second driver also died later at the hospital. The Nissan driver who hit the two men was questioned by police.

The sad truth is that most traffic accidents can be avoided if everyone behind the wheel would remain at the speed limit or below, pay attention on the road and not engage in any activity that takes one’s attention away from staying safe. Driving is a privilege, not a right. As drivers, we are all required to play by all of the rules.

What I’ve read and heard about the new laws however, give me hope that the driving culture in Trinidad and Tobago can change.

These amendments to the law seem like they will help a great deal in enforcing safety because they will provide new systems that will allow law enforcement to more closely monitor and penalise deviant drivers.

For instance, the Red Light Camera System will photograph all vehicles that break the red light and generate a notice with a specific fine that will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

The Demerit Points System will attach traffic offences to prescribed demerit points and other stipulated penalties in effect, providing the Licensing Authority with the required information to suspend the driving permit of a regularly errant driver.

So please, Mr Minister of Works and Transport do all you can to make sure this bill is passed.

Gail Davis