Intolerance and death
published: Tuesday | January 27, 2004
THE EDITOR, Sir:
MY HEART goes out to the family and friends of the Merl Grove student who lost her life in trying to cross the road. I am deeply saddened that once again a family is made to mourn the loss of their child due to an accident on our roads. I pray that the Lord would strengthen her family and fellow students in this period of mourning.
I was listening to Radio Jamaica's news programme on Friday where the principal of the school and Mr. Palmer of the National Works Agency were looking at the cause of the accident and what could have been done to prevent it. I must say that the cause of the accident was not a matter of the removal of the pedestrian crossing in front of the school. The cause of the accident was due to the general level of indiscipline in the country and more so the indiscipline of our drivers.
Most of the drivers on the roads today show nothing but intolerance for their fellow road users. I drive through Richmond Park in the mornings where there is a four-way stop, however, it seems that only about one in every 50 persons recognises that the stop signs are present. Most drivers upon reaching the intersection just continue without even slowing down. Also, whenever the police are not at the Waterloo, Hope Road and Trafalgar Road intersection drivers' position in the right lane as if they want to turn down Hope Road only to speed across to Trafalgar Road when the stop lights go green. There are countless other occasions that I could mention but that would take a book. Therefore, as Mr. Palmer tried to point out, until we improve our attitude or discipline on the roads, we will continue to mourn the loss of our children and loved ones to accidents caused by motorists.
