THE REAL CAUSE OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

THE EDITOR: Firstly we must address the politicians. Tobago and Trinidad’s present predicament is the product of faulty policies and broken promises. Those  of us who still have the old manifestos should check them. Where is the promised transport, including the Town Service in Tobago. All we have are promises. The disgrace of the Priority Bus Route needs to be replaced with trains connecting the whole of Trinidad. Secondly, the Police and other protective services exhibit poor driving habits. The Police turn a blind eye to the practice of P H driving. We must remember that those drivers are lawbreakers. These moving nuisances are aiding successive irresponsible governments, since they could shirk their responsibilities to provide Public Transport. The fall out goes much further because those who drive illegally see no good reason to further their education. Later on in life they add to the numbers of ill equipped, unskilled and unemployable in the society. As the encouraged lawlessness stands, young men are refusing to access free educational opportunities. It is easier to put in some gas and press two pedals than to learn something meaningful. After all, the uneducated male has perks. He could use his transport to attract gullible females , breed in and out of marriage and spread STD’s  including AIDS in the process.

Thirdly, the Licensing Department has to be proactive. It is a well known fact that many persons who have driver’s licences in Trinidad and Tobago cannot drive. Responsible parents actually take their children on the road and teach them after they have acquired licences. Drivers do not know common road courtesy. The selfish driving habits seen daily is evidence of a general lack of etiquette and proper driving skills. Driving tutors need urgent remedial training. The entire nation needs drivers education to be delivered seriously by the electronic media. It is incumbent on those whom we voted for to go back to their manifesto promises as well as reread that which they had sworn to and get their houses in order. Those so called authorities like Police and Licensing department need also to do what is right. They are also there to do the work of the people. We must take cognisance of the fact that Tobago and Trinidad are not  islands filled with wild animals, who cannot help their behaviour. We are supposed to belong to an independent democratic society where rules of government, law and etiquette are observed for the common purpose of making life comfortable and safe for all. Even for  those of us who do not have chauffeurs and security officers at our disposal. We must not let any government fool us by allowing confusion to flourish. That is old time history repeating itself.

BILL MAJOR
Scarborough.