Dear Editor,

The carnage on our road continues unabated. Many families are affected, their loved ones either die, become disabled, or suffer serious, life-threatening injuries.

Every time we have serious traffic crashes, especially those that result in fatalities, all we get from our lawmakers is a bag of talk but no tangible/real change in policy on the policing of our roads.

This trend will continue until or unless the Road Traffic Authority and the police revamp their policies that have not worked.

Our road hogs will not conform but will continue their reckless ways. They are not afraid of the law because they know they will not be caught. They already know — via oncoming motorist flashing their lights — when the nearest police unit is down the road waiting to ambush them with radars, so they continue speeding after they pass the police.

Policymakers and the police need to change their strategy.

As I see it, first, in a timely manner, roads should be repaired and signs put in place to warn motorists of hazards, and painting/repainting markings on roads should be prioritised.

Additionally, the following should also be implemented:

No more radar speed traps on the side of our roads. The lives of police officers are endangered by this practice, especially when they step out into the road to stop speeding motorists.

Deploy police in uniform, in marked and unmarked cars, to monitor motorists on the roads.

Cars must be equipped with radar and cameras to provide footage for evidence.

Police must have ongoing blitz operations; police cars must be at least half a mile apart in traffic and will target and give tickets or warnings (using their discretion) to errant motorists who speed, illegally overtake, or drive recklessly and dangerously.

Police should keep the pressure on, especially in all the known hot spots. When this is done errant motorists will become conscious of the (unseen) police presence and the possibility of getting a ticket should they break the Road Traffic Act.

Sad, but the trend shows more citizens will die in road crashes. We are yet to hear what new policy our lawmakers/policymakers and police have in the pipeline. My suggestions are not novel.

Authnel S Reid

reidaut@icloud.com