Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 05, 2014 Editorial
A few suggestions are necessary to assist in stemming the rate of road fatalities, especially during periods such as the just-concluded road safety month. As mentioned before in these columns, it seems as if some road users are hell-bent on making the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department look incompetent. In all fairness and based upon the resources available for employment in road safety education and the enforcement of traffic regulations, it might be expecting too much in those areas.
It is hardly surprising that matters have reached the pretty pass that they have, considering the number of out-of-court settlements which are substitutes for traffic offenders facing the full brunt of the law. The issue remains as to whether the general public feels well-served by the actions of the people put there to protect and serve.
Many factors are apparently overlooked when it comes to the dispensation of justice and a thorough examination of all the factors which might contribute to vehicle crashes and collisions which lead to injuries and death. The usual reasons adduced for road accidents include speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol (and probably drugs), and inattentive or distracted driving.
Nowhere does the road-using public get the impression that faulty or defective vehicles may be the cause of an accident. The reason for this is that the accident investigators are not trained for that technical role and therefore, the easy way out is taken; blame anything that people can more easily relate to, through experience and repetition.
The various road safety bodies should be advocating for more in-depth examinations to be conducted, including on vehicles involved in crashes. Moreover, that suggestion is not beyond reasonable expectation in light of the fact that the roads are inundated with second-hand and reconditioned vehicles of all classes.
More thought should be given to the possibility that certain makes and models of vehicles may not be roadworthy and might have been recalled by the manufacturer(s) because of structural and mechanical defects. As a people we seem not to be focusing on addressing safety issues that are correctible.
Another thing that possibly lends itself to crashes is the undesirable practice of importing used tyres. As mentioned in a previous column, citizens should not hold their collective breath hoping that the National Bureau of Standards will provide them with the requisite level of comfort by advising them of what to look for when purchasing tyres. The question of political support and affiliation is a major consideration and effectively prevents any negative official pronouncements on the continued importation of used tyres.
On November 27, Toyota announced that it intends to recall 57,000 vehicles globally to replace potentially deadly air bags made by Takata Corporation. Among the models identified for recall are Vitz subcompacts, also called Yaris in some markets, and RAV4 crossover models made between December 2002 and March 2004. It is noted that more than 16 million vehicles have been recalled worldwide since 2008 over Takata’s air bag inflators, which can explode with too much force and spray metal fragments into the car. Honda Motors has also issued a recall on vehicles fitted with the suspect airbags. This situation begs the question “what are our regulators doing about these matters?” This question is all the more relevant since the air bag inflators are thought to become more volatile in hot areas.
The accident investigator or forensic technician should be able to make expert pronouncements on the efficacy of vehicle components including, but not limited to, suspension; tyres; brakes; light bulbs; structural integrity; driver controls; restraint; systems; and door and seat security. The primary consideration should be the determination of the presence of other causal factors apart from, or in addition to, the ubiquitous claims of speeding.
Another possible culprit in road traffic accidents and which is not given much attention is sleep deprivation (SD). The Guyanese people need to be educated to the dangers of SD and this can be a multi-sectoral undertaking involving, among others, the Home Affairs, Labour and Health ministries. Labour is mentioned because of the negative impacts of SD, including on accuracy and quality of work, and people’s ability to think. Guyanese need to demonstrate their concern for these matters as they contribute to their own road safety efforts.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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