EDITOR, The Tribune.
Is there a minister in charge of traffic? If so, where is he?
Every day after leaving my office and driving up Frederick Street to the junction with Shirley Street, the lights on Shirley Street turn red and after a short pause the light on Frederick Street turns green.
The traffic on Shirley Street still keeps going across the red light - up to eight cars I counted the other day.
This blocked the road on the corner and only one car on Frederick Street could get out before the light turned red.
I am sure this is a common occurrence at other traffic lights. I know for sure this happens at the Shirley and Marlborough Street junction.
There are plenty of policemen patrolling along Bay Street. Just take a few of these and place them at the intersections during busy hours.
If they take the numbers of the cars crossing on red and prosecute them, this should solve the problem and save some accidents.
No traffic policemen on the roads? Many divers have obviously never taken a driving lesson and god forbid they ever drive in the USA.
The number of cars I see driving very slowly in the fast lane on the duel carriageways and on occasion even parked to let someone out is incredible.
This not only totally disrupts traffic but potentially causes accidents due to drivers having to weave in and out of traffic.
There are many other rules of the road being ignored. Can the police please take some action on this?
AB
Nassau,
December 18, 2017.
Comments
Porcupine 6 years, 3 months ago
The behaviour on our roads is the best example of how a people really feel about their fellow citizens. It shows the level of respect for the law, the concern for the safety of others and a good indicator of who's time they believe is most valuable. It is a very telling overview of basic courtesy, Christian behaviour, and the future of "nation building". That is why The Bahamas cannot move from square one without someone holding our hands. We see it in parliament, on our roads, standing in line at Wendys, in our government offices. There are not enough responsible adults in the entire country to keep us going in the right direction. We witness it everyday, yet continue to shoot the messenger who points it out. Rather sad watch an entire generation lost to this selfish, childish mentality. Who can blame a student who goes abroad and never returns? Sun, sand and sea we have in abundance. If only an enlightened and caring population we had.............
sealice 6 years, 3 months ago
generationS lost to constant failures abundant....
Craig 6 years, 3 months ago
I am with you on this. Drivers blocking up intersection while the traffic lights turns red is call gridlocking and should be an offence with heavy fines. Also I think there are too many drivers who don't the understand the concept of the fast lane on a dual carriage way, especially those who drive large trucks. It's beyond me why someone driving large slow vehicle thinks its fine to drive on the right hand lane on a dual carriage way. Surely they don't appreciate the disruption to traffic it causes!
Socrates 6 years, 3 months ago
traffic police should be placed at key intersections at peak times tasked with ensuring traffic flows in an orderly manner. the 'yellow box' you find in some 1st world countries, needs to be introduced at major intersections and traffic cameras installed that will automatically take a picture of traffic in the box when the light is red. a hefty fine should follow. when was the last time a traffic count was done to help with deciding how long the light should be green? because of our mostly single lane roads, only one side of a signal should be green at one time.. how often traffic cant move on the green because the car at the front cant turn due to opposite side traffic? how about synchronizing closely spaced lights like on Shirley street? one can write volumes on this.. ultimately, we just need enforcement.. once folks realize you are serious, they will fall in line.
OldFort2012 6 years, 3 months ago
What do you expect when no one has actually "earnt" a driving licence in decades? Bung the instructor and voila!
It will never get better. Just resign yourself to that fact and drive a tank. You will be hit, sooner or later. Just makes sure it's the other guy that dies, not you.
sealice 6 years, 3 months ago
if they started enforcing traffic law and fining all these flat out SCHITTY drivers that don't GAF about anyone else on the streets... they would pay off the national debt...
Gotoutintime 6 years, 3 months ago
That's the problem----Nobody GAF about fellow road users---In fact they don't GAF period!!
hrysippus 6 years, 3 months ago
Major roundabouts and traffic light controlled junctions should have "Do not enter unless your exit is clear" area denoted by stripes pained on the road. This system is used successfully in more developed but equally traffic-congested countries.
UserOne 6 years, 3 months ago
If you see violations on a regular basis in a certain place at a certain time as described in this letter, then report it to the police. If nothing is done, then go to the media. People usually go to the media or social media first to complain. This doesn't solve the problem. Go first to the people who can rectify the problem.
Dawes 6 years, 3 months ago
Sit at any traffic light on any given day across this island and you will see violations. Sometimes with the police watching. The police are aware of this and nothing is going to change.
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 3 months ago
It's pervasive, the police know.
They can go undercover at any hour of the day and take pictures of license plate numbers. Have cameras mounted on the lights so the times and signal state can be synced for court purposes. They can use a mobile setup for the cameras (meaning the entire operation can be moved) since they clearly don't have the money to outfit ever intersection. Move to different intersections randomly so people don't expect it.
If they get a more sophisticated system, they can do this monitoring from a remote location. The idea isn't to catch everyone, but to catch enough and Shane enough that people begin to think the risk is too great.
Form a partnership with the newspapers and plaster the photos of everyone running the red light that week. Front page news.
Don't show up in uniform or marked cars. And don't be obvious.
Just saw a Suzuki swift turn north on Fox Hill from Prince Charles right across the path of a bus. The bus missed him by inches. Clearly the suzuki's turning signal had to have been on on red for quite some time.
I believe it's a combination of illegals who bought licenses, literally cannot drive, believe red lights aren't to be respected and Bahamians filled with rage. Can't wait for nothing.
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