It’s every motorist’s nightmare…to find oneself involved in a fatal accident. With the appalling condition of most of our roads and the determined indiscipline of road users, from pedestrians to drivers, anything could happen any time.

All too soon the New Year has dawned and we have been forced to face the dismal truth. Death on the road takes no holiday. The unfortunate event in the vicinity of Matilda’s Corner on Monday evening is as distressing as any can be. The authorities are engaged currently in investigations, as the law requires, so I’m not here to pass judgement. However, discussion is fuelled by the fact that two of the victims were members of one of the most vulnerable groups in the community – sight-impaired or blind people.

Anyone who is a regular user of that section of Old Hope Road, which leads into Matilda’s Corner, Liguanea, in the Corporate Area, is familiar with people with visual disabilities – travelling the road each day. The headquarters of the Jamaica Society for the Blind is located in that area. They go about their business, travelling along the sidewalks, guided by their white canes and an abundance of faith. I’ve been amazed at their absolute confidence as they go up and down on their own, or sometimes assisted by sighted persons. More often than not, however, you will find them in the company of others who are also sight-impaired.

There are no displays of self-pity, no attempt to play on public sympathy. I’ve never seen a blind person begging at the corner. It is the sighted and the manipulative able-bodied who beat on windscreens demanding a “let-off”. The consensus is that these are usually drug addicts begging to feed their habit. I’ve never seen a blind person among them.

Physical disability does not have to lead to begging. Disability is not the same as lack of ability. For this we owe much to the agencies and organisations like the Salvation Army School for the Blind, Mona Rehab and others, which have worked hard over the years to enable the disabled, despite lack of resources for training, education, etc. Their clients are noted for exceptional work ethics, a strong sense of self-confidence and an indomitable spirit. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, they’re often taken for granted.

The flip side is that we, the supposedly “able”, hardly ever acknowledge the people behind the white canes tapping along the sidewalks or recognise their courage and strength. We’re often surprised to discover that many of the white-cane users go bravely out to work each day with no time – or inclination – to demand a “hand-out” from the rest of society. Perhaps this is why more thought is not given to their protection and care by the wider society. Broken sidewalks, lack of signage to alert others to their present and particular needs, such as adequately lit cross-walks to alert motorists when they come to cross the road; without these, the disabled will always be vulnerable.

Perhaps out of bad may come good. As painful as this week’s event is, it is not going to deter the visually impaired from going about their business. The white canes will still be tapping along the sidewalk, but hopefully with one difference. We the sighted may, for the first time, begin to look in a new light, at the blind (whether partially or fully) and acknowledge their humanity and accord them the care which they deserve.

All will not be lost if other road users come to recognise the uniqueness of these fellow road users and protect them, not out of pity but respect for their courage and determination.

It is regrettable that the tragic event on Old Hope Road took place on the doorstep of a police station. The stark fact is that there are areas where the police are notably absent when their presence could bring order out of chaos.

Matilda’s Corner is a prime example of what needs fixing. The traffic flow pouring into the intersection is extremely heavy, especially during work and school days. In peak hours it builds up from way down the line, especially when commuters are heading home. We are willing to accept that the Matilda’s Corner Police are heavily burdened, but they have to pay more attention to the traffic situation.

Indiscipline is rampant. Reckless and dangerous overtaking is the norm, not only for the taxis and mini-buses but by “decent citizens”. Nobody seems even slightly awed by the Office of the Police Commissioner down the block. Motorists speed past like anywhere else. Even more appalling is the contempt for the Matilda’s Corner Police before whose very eyes the daily bullying and bad driving go on. The major objective of many motorists is full speed ahead to catch the green light at the Matilda’s Corner intersection. So-called “decent people” will not hesitate to drive over their neighbours if they have to. Only occasionally, the police are present to intervene.

Full-grown JUTC buses have to “ask pardon” to get round the bend coming down from Papine to proceed down Old Hope Road. Ambulances trying to get towards the University Hospital can sound the siren all they want. They must either find creative ways to get past or wait and scream until someone relents… I’ve never seen anyone prosecuted for ambulance obstruction, a serious infringement in other countries.

If you really want to understand the real meaning of indiscipline, check out the area called Stanton Terrace, lower down Old Hope Road. They say angels watch out for fools and assorted other misguided beings. Well – there seems to be a permanent angelic observation tower there.

The problem begins from further down at Herb McKenley Boulevard starting at the intersection with Arthur Wint Drive heading north. This seems to be a testing ground for taxi men and others seeking to set testosterone records. Is this a case of boys trying to become men by reckless overtaking? At the intersection, everybody then overtakes everybody else, resulting often in as many as four vehicles abreast, waiting to run the traffic lights and then become a part of that blood-tide which ends up in the Matilda’s Corner rat race. In all this, the big question is, “Where are the police?”

One of the sad footnotes in the losing battle of the cops against indiscipline is the tarnishing of the once good name of the traffic police by the greedy and corrupt among them. All kinds of jokes make the rounds about how the public gets held up, but it is no longer funny, if it ever was. Full time for the good cops to reclaim their name, and get their work done.

So we mourn the untimely departure of two of the brave white-cane travellers. What have we learnt from the tragedy? Ahh sah.

gloudonb@yahoo.com