Dangerous Driving
I was very impressed by a piece I read recently in one of our dailies highlighting the number of road fatalities that have occurred in Trinidad recently. The author went on to list every single headline that had heralded the tragedy. Man that list went on and on and on. I am not sure if she covered it but many of those carnage headlines are also on the interior pages so what was showed, as scary as it was, may actually be an under-representation.
What is sad though is that people now have become so immune to such headlines and stories that they really could care less. Imagine last week I was up and down from Mt. Hope 4 days out of 5 and every single day I got stuck in traffic secondary to an accident. Many of the mishaps probably don't even make it to the press. People are still driving like maniacs with no regard for life or loved ones or the law. The breathalyser isn't here in our country, the highway police is like a toothless pussy-cat and there is absolutely no respect for authority.
It is tragic when a young and upcoming singer dies in a vehicular accident and the country has forgotten the reason behind it was some sort of lawless driving. There is no way that sort of damage would have occurred had the speed limit been obeyed. But then oh, is there a speed limit here? She was right in pointing out the fallacy of a driving test that is administered here. Many people have fake drivers permits I am sure.
What I think is needed and probably won't happen is some sort of fear for the law. Stringent measures and strict to the point of unfair penalties. Why is it that lawless, reckless drivers here go to the US and UK and are angels on the road? FEAR ! If the authorities here become like road sharks while catching those that drive hazardous vehicles, often no brake-lights, malfunctioning headlights, illegal lights, overloaded passengers and uninsured vehicles then possibly change may begin. Having said that, why should anyone fear someone they can't respect? How can anyone respect someone in authority who probably has three O-Levels and done some sorry excuse of a entrance exam into the service? Its a two-way street fear, respect and the question of commanding as opposed to demanding either.
Until those changes come about, and the fundamentals of educating the arrogant and illiterate drivers, especially taxi-drivers and youths are instilled, there will be many more headlines, probably relegated to the interior pages and there will be many more life-years lost. But who has the time to read or think about them, because aren't we all preparing for "Christmas 2K4" and "Carnival 2K5" and then something else "K5,6,7 etc etc etc".
The things we take for granted and the dangers we face despite how well a life we may each individually live. I am sorry if I sound upset but whenever someone else's stupidity or disregard for the law jeopardises my or my loved one's health or well-being I find it disturbing to know that I still have to share the road, the streets even the oxygen and this earth with those immature and obviously aloof creatures.
Hopefully after reading this we can play our part by being more careful when we drive, myself included.
ayez une commande sûre,
tenga una impulsión segura,
haben Sie einen sicheren Antrieb,
have a safe drive,
Shobhit
What is sad though is that people now have become so immune to such headlines and stories that they really could care less. Imagine last week I was up and down from Mt. Hope 4 days out of 5 and every single day I got stuck in traffic secondary to an accident. Many of the mishaps probably don't even make it to the press. People are still driving like maniacs with no regard for life or loved ones or the law. The breathalyser isn't here in our country, the highway police is like a toothless pussy-cat and there is absolutely no respect for authority.
It is tragic when a young and upcoming singer dies in a vehicular accident and the country has forgotten the reason behind it was some sort of lawless driving. There is no way that sort of damage would have occurred had the speed limit been obeyed. But then oh, is there a speed limit here? She was right in pointing out the fallacy of a driving test that is administered here. Many people have fake drivers permits I am sure.
What I think is needed and probably won't happen is some sort of fear for the law. Stringent measures and strict to the point of unfair penalties. Why is it that lawless, reckless drivers here go to the US and UK and are angels on the road? FEAR ! If the authorities here become like road sharks while catching those that drive hazardous vehicles, often no brake-lights, malfunctioning headlights, illegal lights, overloaded passengers and uninsured vehicles then possibly change may begin. Having said that, why should anyone fear someone they can't respect? How can anyone respect someone in authority who probably has three O-Levels and done some sorry excuse of a entrance exam into the service? Its a two-way street fear, respect and the question of commanding as opposed to demanding either.
Until those changes come about, and the fundamentals of educating the arrogant and illiterate drivers, especially taxi-drivers and youths are instilled, there will be many more headlines, probably relegated to the interior pages and there will be many more life-years lost. But who has the time to read or think about them, because aren't we all preparing for "Christmas 2K4" and "Carnival 2K5" and then something else "K5,6,7 etc etc etc".
The things we take for granted and the dangers we face despite how well a life we may each individually live. I am sorry if I sound upset but whenever someone else's stupidity or disregard for the law jeopardises my or my loved one's health or well-being I find it disturbing to know that I still have to share the road, the streets even the oxygen and this earth with those immature and obviously aloof creatures.
Hopefully after reading this we can play our part by being more careful when we drive, myself included.
ayez une commande sûre,
tenga una impulsión segura,
haben Sie einen sicheren Antrieb,
have a safe drive,
Shobhit
posted by SIAII at 9:51 AM
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