Dear Editor,

Road and workplace safety are not given the necessary priority despite the chest-beating of some safety agencies. They are as culpable as the motorists and workers they often blame for accidents.

For example, In early July I witnessed a worker at Norman Manley International Airport about 5:30 am walking barefooted, pushing a wheelbarrow laden with bits of broken concrete. Not only was the practice unsafe, but it was also not an image we want to portray to visitors at the gateway to our country. I am sure this worker was employed by a sub-contractor and not the airport authorities. However, the airport authorities must ensure that all sub-contractors apply and obey safety rules and guidelines.

On another occasion, also at the airport, I saw a motorist breeze through the pedestrian crossing while people were waiting to cross. I shouted to one motorist “Don’t you see pedestrians crossing?” He retorted: “Man, gwan whey yu a go!” I do not blame him for his response because he may just be ignorant or, as a result of a lack of enforcement, doesn’t care that pedestrians have the right of way. If we had road safety education and enforcement, we could prevent some of the traffic accidents and violations.

I suggest that the police mount operations involving plain clothes and uniformed cops. The plain clothes cop could stand at pedestrian crossings and pull over vehicles in violation. For the first offence, the colleague in uniform would issue warning tickets for failure to comply with the law regarding pedestrians. Over time, more and more motorists would be more aware and out of the fear of prosecution, will observe and respect the law.

The National Works Agency is found wanting; it is tardy and sloppy in effecting repairs on our roads and in affixing appropriate roads signs to warn motorists of imminent danger. One example of that was on the road from Lionel Town to Hayes in Clarendon where the authorities blocked the road with a pile of dirt and established a detour.

At the intersection a stop sign was placed on a mound. Unsuspecting motorists with no knowledge of or familiarity with the road had difficulty figuring out whether they should turn right (the correct direction) or left, which would lead to the sand mine. After several weeks, the works agency eventually erected signs with the right direction, but even then, one sign could still be misconstrued given where it was located. A detour sign with the arrow pointing in the right direction should also be erected on the mound where the stop sign is located. One would expect that there would be similar signs on the return from Hayes, but there were none in place.

Until these agencies do their part and show that they take workplace and road

safety seriously, the citizenry will pay scant regard to safety.

I remain,

Authnel Reid

authnelreid@optonline.net