Short-term road safety plans needed too

THE EDITOR: Several months ago I wrote on the subject of safety, on the roads, in the home, and in the environment. I pointed out that a number of totally predictable accidental deaths were likely to take place in certain areas such as road traffic accidents, home fires, drownings, domestic quarrels, etc. It saddens me that there is no letup in the deadly numbers. The very fact that they are predictable means that it is possible to attempt some means of at least minimising, if not totally eliminating them. I had suggested a number of ideas that might produce long term results, but the problem is pressing now, and short-term plans are clearly needed too.

The problem is that nobody seems willing to grasp the bull by the horns and start doing something now, however small. Peter Quentrall-Thomas and his campaign for facts and figures made me think, what price a life? Here are some thoughts. They are limited by the fact that I am short of time, but the general principles will be clear, and I am sure there are others who can come up with far better ideas. Road traffic accidents. (Immediate action, no significant new cost)

1. Rigid enforcement of the Highway Code. Greatly increased fines for all major moving “safety” violations, such as speeding, dangerous driving, improper overtaking, failing to come to a full stop at required points, running red lights, turning from inappropriate lane or when turning prohibited, etc. Culpable in any serious accident, licence automatically cancelled, full re-test required for re-issue. Rigid enforcement of drink/driving laws.

2. Enforcement of “considerate driving” with somewhat increased fines etc. Driving in outside lane when not overtaking. Driving at an excessively slow speed for the prevailing conditions. Excessive smoke or noise emissions. Failure to dip headlights or improperly adjusted headlights, etc.

3. Control the massive destructive power of heavy vehicles going too fast. All vehicles of more than 11.2 tonnes limited to 20 mph in built-up areas, and 40 mph on open road and excluded from outside lanes except for very short periods to overtake, or make necessary right hand turn, or other essential manoeuver. Road Traffic accidents and flow, medium term.

1. Enforcement: Installation of speed cameras, and traffic light cameras on a large scale. Enforcement cameras in police vehicles. All equipment supplied with maintenance contracts and performance guarantees.

2. How control: Traffic monitoring cameras and remote control of key traffic lights to dynamically control traffic in real time.

3. Computerised vehicle and driver database with real time links to police vehicles and stations, 24/7.

4. Properly manned and equipped Traffic courts to ensure swift delivery of justice. Target all cases dealt within 14 days.

Undisputed tickets payable 24/7 through electronic banking. Fines go to “Road Safety Trust” which is mandated to improve safety on the roads.

5. Colour coding of roads similar to UK and other areas. (Lines painted on road edge).

Double Red lines. No stopping for any reason at any time, disabled vehicles towed at owners’ expense. Red line. No stopping for any reason at peak times. Double yellow. No parking any time. Single yellow. No parking at specified times. White/yellow. Approved taxis only. White. Permit only. No line. Unrestricted. These are just suggestions to give an idea of how they might work. The combination of coloured lines, solid and dotted, has many permutations, and they are used to great effect in the UK. It would certainly give CEPEP something useful to do.

6. Pedestrian crossings, properly marked in sensible locations, with offset guard rails and traffic lights, raised and protected centre islands, and zig-zag lines on road side. Any moving violation in zig-zag zone, triple fines. Parking violation, double fines. Pedestrian overpasses or underpasses in especially dangerous areas, or essential constant flow areas.

7. Change the shape of traffic calming humps. I have seen well-designed humps in the UK that slow traffic without being too rough on vehicles, or requiring a complete stop.

8. Median dividers on all dual carriageways. High enough to prevent glare at night from opposite traffic, apart from preventing head on collisions.

Road traffic Long term
1. Really re-vamp public transportation. It is clear that the lack of safe, reliable, clean, and punctual public transport has forced many to invest in a vehicle just to move themselves and their loved ones to and from basic essential activities.

2. Light rail, trams, buses, or whatever, somebody has to figure out the mix needed and get on with it. As long as this need is unsatisfied, vehicle numbers will continue their exponential rise. During the last 30 or so years I have not noticed any significant level of new roads or parking to accommodate this epidemic of vehicles. As one writer observed, the ratio of kilometres to vehicles gets rapidly worse.

3. Quite apart from the large number of adults who have to travel to work, many are now forced to drop and pick up their school aged children because of the threat of kidnapping. A well thought out school bus system could make a big difference especially in Port-of-Spain, the school hours jams are steadily worsening.

4. Now is the time to put 2020 infrastructure in, especially if we want to woo FTAA. No foreigner is likely to want to serve here if there is the prospect of ever worsening traffic jams, and his kids have to have armed escorts everywhere they go.

5. Arterial highways should be planned and whilst Caroni lands are not yet fully and finally committed, thought should be given to long term highway requirements and reserves.

6. An aggressive campaign should be mounted to develop free flowing arterial — say for example, from Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas, Port-of-Spain to Toco, Port-of-Spain to Cedros, Cedros to Toco. Imaginative planning is needed. For instance, there is a shortage of land for housing near Port-of-Spain, why not look at running a road on a causeway from Cocorite to Tembladora, and filling some or all of the space between to make land available for housing, river outflows, scouring, flushing, and access to existing marine facilities will require thought, but the sale of this reclaimed land could offset some of the causeway cost offshore swampy mangrove islands could be placed to replace the wetlands lost at Invaders Bay, and other areas. Landscaping and environmental possibilities are endless. When all is said and done what is needed is action, not committees and discussion. The challenge is plain for all to see. Who will rise to meet it? Again, what price a life?

SIMON KELSHALL
Diego Martin