THE POLICE action in prosecuting six persons for traffic offences in connection with the PNP mass rally at Half-Way Tree Sunday night is a welcome development.
Hitherto motorcades proceeding to and from party rallies have ignored the traffic regulations with impunity. Buses, trucks, and cars have sped through red lights; bodies of passengers have protruded from windows; and foolhardy bus riders have perched atop the vehicles endangering their own lives.
With these malpractices so prevalent the presumption was that the police were making allowances for the political occasion, even though the reckless driving endangered other users of the road.
It now appears that an initiative of the Political Ombudsman has begun to make a difference. As we reported earlier this week, Bishop Blair urged the political parties to assign marshals to control their motorcades; and he urged the police to act on clear breaches of the law.
As a result six persons, including a JUTC bus driver, were prosecuted for such offences as driving in the wrong direction along a one-way street, and for body protrusion from vehicles.
While the action taken by Bishop Blair is most welcome we think that other players have an equal responsibility in this matter. Owners of chartered vehicles, such as the JUTC, should insist that their drivers obey the law. The exuberance of party supporters may well influence drivers to 'step on it' or otherwise ignore the traffic regulations. Thus the marshals suggested by the Ombudsman should be required to restrain rowdy behaviour in the vehicles.
We expect that high spirits must be a part of political activity at election time; but the rights of non-participants must be respected and the traffic laws must be enforced to protect lives and property.
There is a thin line between rabble-rousing and overt violence. That line should not be crossed.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
