I was caught in traffic build-up on Sunday, September 1 around 8 pm along Western Main Road, Cocorite (what we call Cococrite stretch ). As the traffic moved slowly forward I saw a fire tender and an ambulance. I prayed that I was not right but my fears were realised as I passed the scene, I witnessed someone on a stretcher on the far left pavement A vehicle had again come in contact with the concrete barriers.
Every time I pass on that roadway I look at these barriers and I wonder to myself who could have given the directive to place these barriers on a high-speed lane practically in the middle of the lane. I had never witnessed a collision as I did that day, but I have seen the barriers fragmented and I could only have imagined what happened. I have no training in road safety but common sense would tell you that that’s an absolute hazard.
This takes me to another point concerning these barriers. If one was to take a comprehensive look at the positioning of these barriers nationwide you would notice how many of them are misaligned, out of place, damaged, improperly illuminated. Case in point, not far from this scene on the Audrey Jeffers Highway heading east one barrier sits horizontally inches away from the white borderline. But its not only here. It’s all over the country, and one wonders where are the officials of the Ministry of Works and Transport who are in charge of our highways to make them safe for motorists and pedestrians alike.
If we as laypeople could see this, it begs the question: Where does the responsibility lie?
Today a family is in grief due to someone’s negligence and neglect. Where is the accountability?
Also, on the question of road safety just take a drive along the Uriah Butler/Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and see the condition of the cable barriers that are all limp, busted and lying on the shoulder of the highway for miles on both sides. Shameful to say the least, not to mention the inability to afford any protection in case of an accident. This has been so for years.
While I understand that speed, intoxication and careless driving contribute to accidents, I will say that our roadways are not safe and contribute to many casualties and accidents.
Improper lighting, poor signage, potholes, debris on both the roadway and shoulder. I would like to expand but we all know.
As a layman and motorist for many years may I suggest closing off this lane on the Cocorite stretch west and turn on the traffic light further ahead to get on the eastbound lane. Just five minutes more. Another option is to cut into the grassed median in the eastbound lane which would keep merging vehicles further away from the extreme right eastbound lane.
Jason Karam
Woodbrook