The Editor, Sir:

It often bothers me to hear police officers justifying their harassment of commuters by stating that it is excessive speeding that causes road fatalities. I suggest otherwise, it is not the speed but poor road conditions and inconsiderate pedestrians that cause the frequent road accidents and subsequent fatalities.

We know the fault is not that of the police, but the governments that have allowed the problem to persist. The problem, therefore, is not to harass the driver but doing something about the cause, releasing the police free to address our more pressing crime problem.

It is interesting to note where the accidents occur and the nature of the road surfaces. Very often, it is the result of an unpatched pothole that exists for months or some uneven or rough patches of road, sometimes caused by the government agencies that dug up the road and not repairing it in time.

swerving from impediments

We are not here saying that people do not, at times, drive recklessly, but often people who encounter severe accidents were not speeding but on occasion has to swerve from impediments in the road, which was either put there by people or by road deterioration. I propose that the government embark on a weekly road examination and fixing initiative to help in reducing accidents and fatalities.

I further submit that while motorists are cajoled to drive at 39 or 50 miles per hour in the now more technologically advanced vehicles, government officials and even policemen themselves do not obey this rule. It is unfair to ask a motorist to sit for six hours in a vehicle to drive from Kingston to Montego Bay driving at 30 or 50 miles per hour. I submit that speed limits be increased by at least ten miles per hour bearing in mind that the current limit is ludicrous at best.

Road accidents are also the result of careless pedestrians who refuse to use the sidewalks when one is available or by jay walking. In countries such as the U.K. jaywalking is illegal.

facilitate vehicular traffic

Roads are built to facilitate vehicular traffic and so pedestrians should not be allowed to carelessly use it. On major thoroughfares pedestrians should use crossings dedicated for the purpose and not venture out into high speed corridors for motorists to brake suddenly to avoid them. I believe that such instances of reckless road usage should be prosecuted. Chief among these violators are cyclists who seem, at times, to not consider the fact that motor vehicles are using the road as well and so tend to swerve unconcerned, into the path of moving vehicles.

Another matter that is of concern to me and other motorists is the new thinking to add to the powers of the police to prosecute drivers and seize vehicles. It is suggested that police should take away vehicles without insurance or driver's licence. These suggestions are to a large extent oppressive I am against giving police more powers of passing judgement on motorists. I believe that it is punishment to take away a motorist's vehicle, and then charge him to retrieve it. What should be done is to remove the plates and order the offender to drive home then use the opportunity to summon the offender to court wherein he/she will be punished for the offence if found guilty. That should be the way of the law in a democratic system.

I am, etc.,

TED DONALD

ted.donald@yahoo.com

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica