Garth Rattray

Recently, I was exiting Woodglen Drive to turn (right) down Hagley Park Road. The traffic light had changed to green and the driver in front of me had already turned left. I know that drivers habitually disregard this traffic light so I entered the intersection cautiously.

I had gone a far way when my father suddenly shouted, "Watch it! Watch it! Watch it!" I stopped in time to see a route taxi flying down from Half-Way Tree. He continued through the red light and down the road without reducing speed. If I were alone - as I often am - this story would have ended in disaster.

That same afternoon, about 45 minutes later, we were retracing our steps and approaching Woodglen Drive from Hagley Park Road. The lights turned red and cars were stopping. Another route taxi overtook me, swerved in dangerously and then sped out and overtook the car in front of me (that had already stopped at the intersection). That route taxi also accelerated through the bright red lights. Luckily, the car exiting Woodglen Drive moved off slowly or that story would also have ended in disaster.

Traffic school

Although I believe that our roads would be much safer if traffic offenders were sent to traffic school, and not simply made to pay fines, until the Government acknowledges this, our cash-strapped economy could use the easy revenue from traffic fines to help repair the damage wrought by weather phenomena.

There are many dangerous hot spots where wayward motorists routinely flout the law and put other people's property and lives at significant risk.

If the Jamaica Constabulary Force were to assign personnel to those strategic locations, they would secure order, prevent crashes and reap financial rewards for the government coffers.

I know of a few well-known areas, but I'm certain that other road users can provide many more to the police. These include Westminster Road, where route taxis, mini and Coaster buses consistently overtake entire lines of traffic and force oncoming drivers to curb their vehicles in order to avoid a crash or violent confrontation. The two-way stop sign at Westminster Road and Dunbarton Avenue is a joke - hardly anyone obeys it.

Racecourse for daredevils

During the afternoons, Hope Road - from Half-Way Tree to Waterloo Road - becomes a racecourse for daredevils. They overtake everyone, go up the wrong side of the road, enter the right-turn-only lane then swerve left in front of those patiently waiting on the lights. Sometimes they obstruct traffic by blocking the right-turn lane until they get an opportunity to bore into the line.

Route taxis jostle for passengers by illegally using turning lanes, speeding and swerving dangerously up and down between Half-Way Tree and Papine early in the mornings.

Motorists using Molynes and Red Hills roads are intimidated and bullied throughout the day as route taxis, mini and Coaster bus drivers overtake dangerously and force oncoming vehicles to pull over. The traffic lights at the intersection of Molynes Road and Cassia Park Road are often disobeyed.

A major thoroughfare like Hagley Park Road is the stomping ground for law breakers. Route taxis, mini and Coaster buses form a third lane every chance they get. They also break the law by going off-route (through Margaret Villa Road and Stratford Avenue) to circumvent heavy traffic.

Decent, law-abiding road users can only drive defensively and pray for the authorities to stem the tide of indiscipline that nourishes the 'disease' of corruption and violence that puts us all in danger wherever we are.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice who may be reached atgarthrattray@gmail.com. Feedback may also be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.