By Vando Palmer, Contributor 
Students crossing the busy Constant Spring Road in St. Andrew earlier this month.
ON FRIDAY morning, January 23, 2004, at about 6:15, a 13-year-old student of Merl Grove High School was killed in a motor vehicle accident as she tried to cross the road. The incident is unfortunate and regrettable. The management and staff of the National Works Agency use this medium to express our deep, sincere and heartfelt condolences to her parents, family members, friends and close associates of Shakara Harris.
This incident has triggered a debate which borders on placing blame squarely on the NWA. We recognise that in circumstances such as this one, it is easy to blame someone other than the person who was actually involved in the accident.
Permit me, therefore, to outline the facts, after which you can decide who is to be blamed. The removal of the painted pedestrian crossing in front of Merl Grove High School was based on our professional judgement with regard to safety. This judgement regarding safety was based on recognition of the changes in the operational environment of that particular road section. These changes increased the risk of collision between pedestrians and vehicles.
The combined improvements of a new two-lane bridge over the Sandy Gully and the intersection of Constant Spring Road/Dunrobin Avenue and West Kings House/Constant Spring Road resulted in:
increased traffic volume which peaks to 2,460 motor vehicles per hour between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.;
significant reduction in suitable gaps in the traffic stream for safe crossing by pedestrians;
reduced sight distance for drivers on the western side of the roadway and increased vehicle speed despite the speed limit being 50km or 30 miles per hour.
ENGINEERING EVALUATION
We used standard traffic engineering practices to evaluate the safety of the original pedestrian crossing. This took into consideration:
traffic volumes;
approach speed;
availability of suitable gaps
in traffic flow;
the width of the roadway;
pedestrian walking speed; and
sight distance.
The results of the engineering assessment dictate that the painted pedestrian crossing in front of the school should be removed and relocated, because it was no longer safe.
It was relocated to the signalised intersection of Constant Spring Road/Dunrobin Avenue where push-button controlled heads provide the cross walk information. A little white man indicates that it is safe to walk on the pedestrian walkway, a flashing red hand alerts pedestrians that their walk time is at ending and a solid red hand warns 'don't walk'. This has been in operation for approximately eight months.
PEDESTRIAN INCONVENIENCE
The chairman of the School Board, the principal and a Vice-principal were informed of these changes. They were also advised about the dangers of trying to cross the road in front of the school at this location.
The school community on several occasions expressed dissatisfaction with the new arrangement, against the background of 'inconvenience' for students who are now required to walk a distance of approximately 110 metres to the intersection (no more) for their own safety. We reviewed the school's requests to reinstate the painted pedestrian crossing. We turned down the requests based on our earlier position that it is not safe, taking into consideration the changes in the operational environment and the high risk of an accident between motorists and pedestrians. It is normal engineering practice to promote safety over convenience.
MIXED SIGNALS
Following the fatal accident on Friday, I spoke with a senior member of staff of Merl Grove, who told me that during the course of that week the girls were reminded to cross at the lights. But, while we were having the conversation there was a man with a whistle and a raised sign stopping vehicles to allow the girls to cross at the very point where we have indicated that it is dangerous to do so. He had a difficult time with the traffic. As responsible adults charged with the responsibility of instilling discipline in our children, we must be careful not to send them mixed signals with our actions. The services of that warden would have been better utilised at the designated, safe zone at the intersection of Dunrobin Avenue and Constant Spring Road.
SAFETY FIRST
Our slogan indicates our responsibility and commitment to develop safe, reliable and quality roads. The improvement works along this corridor is continuing. In light of what has happened we have decided to fast forward other works planned for later segments. These include the installation of a concrete median between the abutment of the bridge, and Dunrobin Ave-nue/Constant Spring Road intersection. Pedestrian guard rails acquired for use in Half-Way Tree, where we observed an untenable situation will also be erected along the median strip. This will further reduce conflicting right turns from driveways, discourage pedestrians from crossing 4 to 5 lanes of traffic and encourage them to use the facility at the traffic lights.
In the meantime, our drive to replace Pedestrian Heads at the major intersections in the city continues. These heads have already been installed at Half Way Tree Road/South Odeon Avenue, Hagley Park Road/Max-field Avenue to name a few. Safety on our roads is everybody's business. Let us use the death of this innocent schoolgirl to revisit our attitudes towards each other on our roads. Perhaps, just perhaps, we might find room for adjustments that will save and preserve life and Shakara Harris would not have died in vain.
V. George Palmer is Manager, Communication and Customer Service at the National Works Agency.
