Earlier this month, THE VINCENTIAN recommended that all drivers adopt better safe driving habits as one of their New Year’s resolutions. Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for traffic, weather and road conditions is unsafe at any time.The roads of St. Vincent have been undergoing major infrastructure improvements, from our costal highways to streets in Kingstown. Unfortunately many drivers become off-track racers, using these newly paved roads as their own private speedways.
Our police do not have the radar and other technology devices to enforce speed limits and safe driving. Those charged with a traffic offense, usually following an accident, often ignore the charge or hire a lawyer to defend them on a technicality and go on to offend again. Is there a solution?
Following its rebuilding and new pavement, Paul’s Avenue was in danger of becoming Kingstown’s newest high speed artery. It has a great deal of van and commercial traffic, a constant flow of pedestrian traffic including school children. Exacerbating the dangerous conditions, parking is allowed on the east side of the street.
A solution is the recent installation of “Speed Bumps” or what are known as “Traffic Calmers”. While the ‘bumps’ may calm traffic, they anger drivers and are the subject of much heated debate and criticism.
Speed bumps are not new: The idea originated when the ancient Romans used stepping stones to slow chariots at pedestrian crossings. They were introduced in traffic calming street designs in numerous pre-war U.S. and European cities. On June 7, 1906, The New York Times reported on speed bumps being installed in Chatham, New Jersey. Research has proven that speed bumps are very effective in reducing speeds on streets, contributing to greater quality of life and fewer crashes.
Critics argue that speed bumps slow down emergency vehicles and may cause physical discomfort, even pain, for disabled persons or persons with physical ailments. Being jolted or jostled by speed bumps and humps can be painful for persons with injuries or painful illnesses. Surely the overall safety of everyone is more important.
Our streets are valuable public spaces and should be shared equally by all users. Street designs and traffic rules could slow and reduce traffic while encouraging walkers and cyclists to share the street.
Vans, buses, emergency vehicles, garbage trucks and people in a hurry, will become more aware of where traffic calming measures are installed and either take a different route or change their driving habits. While drivers can often ignore traffic laws and good driving practices, they cannot ignore traffic calming speed bumps. They either slow down or suffer an immediate penalty of a damaged vehicle or at the very least shaken up passengers or cargo.
While The Vincentian applauds any measures designed to improve traffic safety, we do recommend that our road and traffic engineers consider eliminating parking on the first two blocks of north of Paul’s Avenue, making the speed bumps more visible by painting them white or yellow and erecting signs advising drivers to slow down.
If you live anywhere near Paul’s Avenue and hear things going “Bump” in the night, it’s probably just another driver ignoring the speed bumps.
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