Dear Editor,

Jamaica boasts some of the fastest athletes the world has ever seen; in fact, our speed has helped Brand Jamaica become internationally recognised across the world.

Speed, however, if not properly managed, can be a country’s worst nightmare. Every year the numbers keep topping that of the previous year, and the number one contributing factor is speeding, and I beg to add impatience.

One of the hardest thing for a Jamaican to do, it seems, is to wait in any form of queue, with the only exception being the American embassy. Consequently, we continue to see the mangled remains of cars, busses, and motor cycles pressed into walls, other vehicles, or wrapped around a light pole because of speeding.

Our need for speed has made funeral homes a thriving business. It has become an unnecessary stress to our health-care system, causing an overflow in the accident and emergency section of the hospitals. With the many deaths from road traffic accidents it is safe to say Jamaicans don’t learn and don’t care. This is seen in the speeding in built-up areas, overtaking of lines of vehicles, and reckless driving wherever there is asphalt. Public passenger vehicles will need to be discusses separately as they pretend to be Nascar drivers, toying with passengers’ lives.

Calling on the police to play the role of Jesus will not solve the issue. We need a culture change, we need our laws to be effective, and we need our leaders to be intimate with the happenings on the island. The Transport Minister Audley Shaw and the Transport Authority need to take control of the mayhem on our roads by developing realistic plans of action. It is obvious that moral suasion and increased fines have not been able to catch up with the speed of the indiscipline on the nation’s roads.

Hezekan Bolton

h_e_z_e@hotmail.com