Speed bumps save lives

April 27, 2008

Dear Sir,

I recently visited the island of Fiji where, it appears, traffic accidents are kept to a minimum. The reason? I would suggest it is the simple fact that there are speed bumps all over the place.

Their speed bumps are well signposted and have a maximum approach speed of 20 kph. They work! I drove around for four days and experienced them myself. Everyone slows down including the "pseudo racers"!

I can hear the argument that ambulances, emergency vehicles etc. would suffer but there would be fewer accidents to attend. I can also hear the complaint about motorcycles having difficulty and also the rain issues... etc.

Fiji has motorcycles and if you think it rains here then ... go there for a few days. They have monsoon rains. Fiji is very much larger than Bermuda and speed bumps work there!

They don't cost much to make but could save a lot of lives.

JOHN L. WILLIAMS

Smith's

We're taking the bus

April 29, 2008

Dear Sir,

My wife and I are coming to Bermuda on a cruise in May. We are from South Carolina. I have been reading about the traffic fatalities in The Royal Gazette. My wife asked me if there were more traffic deaths in Bermuda or South Carolina. I have done some research. The figures I found are approximate, but I think they have some validity even so.

1) In Bermuda there are approximately 66,000 permanent residents. There are approximately 66,000 registered vehicles (ratio 1:1). In South Carolina, there are approximately 4.3 million residents and 3 million registered vehicles (ratio about 4:3).

2) In Bermuda there are approximately 30,000 cars and approximately 30,000 motorcycles (ratio about 1:1). In SC, of the 3.0 million registered vehicles, there are about 51,000 motor cycles (a ratio of about 60:1).

3) In Bermuda there are about 140 miles of roads. In SC, there are about 64,000 miles of roads. Calculating vehicles per mile of road, in SC the ratio is 47 vehicles per mile of road, and in Bermuda the ratio is 471 vehicles per mile of road.

4) In SC there are about 1050 traffic deaths per year. This is about one traffic death for every 4095 people. Projecting 24 traffic deaths in Bermuda for 2008 (since there have been eight in the first four months), there is about one traffic death for every 2750 permanent residents.

5) Of the eight traffic deaths in Bermuda this year, at least six of the eight have been riding a motor cycle.

6) None of the traffic-related deaths in Bermuda this year have been riding a bus.

It looks to me like taking the bus is a good idea.

Anticipating enjoying your beautiful island,

ROBERT KUKLA

South Carolina

Fake accidents misguided

April 25, 2008

Dear Sir,

"911".

"There's a big accident on Kindley Field Road"

"Yes, we know, it's just a fake put on for road safety week."

"But it's really bad and people are hurt."

"Again, we know about this – they are just pretending to be hurt."

"But there's blood everywhere – please come quickly."

"No, just ketchup – they are actors."

"Please, you've got to believe me – we need an ambulance now."

"Look, I've told you, it's a fake – get over it."

"No, it's very real – the fake one is further up the road."

"Oh my God why didn't you tell me?"

"Click."

"911"

"There's a big accident on Kindley Field Road……."

What's next?

Fake pack racing after school?

Fake drunken driving at 3 a. m.?

Perhaps you can give some pointers to the Parks Department so they can have fake drownings at Horseshoe Bay.

Now, I'm into comedy – but this was just not funny. This stunt caused real accidents that otherwise wouldn't have happened.

What were you thinking?

CHRISTOPHER BROADHURST

St. George's

Think outside the box

April 22, 2008

Dear Sir,

This letter should really be addressed to the Minister of Transport but as he is also the Premier and the Minister of Tourism we are certain that basic traffic matters would not get much of his time. As a constituent from the Western Parishes, who has to drive into Hamilton on occasion, instead of taking the ferry, I am concerned at the lack of government interest in the unchecked frustrating traffic problems from the West in the mornings plus the obstacles that are put in the way to further slow to a crawl the very long lines of vehicles on their way to Hamilton and beyond.

I am also dismayed at the lack of concern by the Police Traffic unit on these matters as surely it is part of their job to keep traffic moving expeditiously.

This past week or so there has been a traffic light on Middle Road, Paget, to direct traffic around work that was being done within the sidewalk area! Simultaneously on one particular morning at about 8.30 a.m. surveyors had blocked off one lane of Harbour Road at Red Hole backing traffic all the way to Burnt House Hill.

We appreciate the safety issues when the people are working but taking a survey during the rush hour on Harbour Road shows a lack of respect for the hundreds of people driving to work trying to make time. The minor works on Middle Road could have been easily barricaded satisfactorily to allow the two lanes of traffic to flow freely, particularly in the 7a.m./9 a.m. and 3.30pm/6pm rush. It should become a rule that any digging up of our main road arteries such work must be covered over to allow normal traffic between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from 3.30 p.m. through 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

When it takes an hour plus to drive from Belmont to Front Street there is something wrong with this picture! It's time for Dr. Brown to give up this monetarily lucrative portfolio to someone that can actually spend some time in trying to solve the problems on our roads. With 100 deaths on our roads during the PLP watch and virtual gridlock every morning and evening for West Enders, we need someone more capable to lead the way. Someone that will actually 'think outside the box' to come up with a workable plan to make the travelling public's morning and evening nightmares go away. Add to the nightmare the cost and waste of gasoline, the significant pollution in the low lying areas plus the waste of people's time, lower economic productivity and increased stress levels and we have a mix that is intolerable. As Bermudians we deserve better: we must now demand more of our politicians.

There are solutions without legislation to ban cars or reduce the use of cars. We don't need experts from overseas creating more expensive reports to gather dust to sit on top of the many other dust laden reports from the last 40 years. This is a local problem that can be solved through the input of Bermudians. A Joint Committee of the House of Assembly should be formed to examine the day to day traffic problems. There should be an open session for verbal input from the general public for practical solutions and a period of time for ideas to be put on paper for submission. Some of these solutions are very simple and some will require considerations for such things as an overpass, etc.

The object of the exercise is to keep traffic moving and one of the main hindrances to and from the West is the Stowe Hill traffic being let into the Harbour Road traffic. Technically from Burnt House Hill, Warwick through to Supermart on Front Street, traffic should never stop moving on Harbour Road! Yet it crawls and stops each day, moving 20 to 30 yards every few minutes, with lines on Harbour Road regularly backed up to Mizzen Top from as early 7.45 a.m.! Close off Stowe Hill and Chapel Road to through traffic during rush hours and put a policeman at the Supermart light and traffic will move well on Harbour Road. Give it a try for a week or so and prove the point… or. just ignore your West End constituents to your political peril.

This West End traffic problem affects half of Bermuda. We do not know the plight of the East Enders but am sure some tweaking and common sense can improve their lot as well. It's time to have a Joint Committee of the House to work with the public to address and resolve many of the problems. This is not a political issue. This is a 'People Issue'. The People expect intelligent practical common sense solutions … Now!

GEOFF PARKER Sr.

Warwick West

P.s. By the way, if the Minister is interested… Commuters on the Belmont Ferry take their life in their hands everyday trying to cross the road from the parking lot to the Ferry dock… The step down into the street from the stair landing is too high and the bushes and trees obscure the view to the West requiring commuters to lean out into the road to look for traffic that clips along at high speed except in the morning crawl. We are aware that several requests for a simple zebra crossing and 'pedestrian right of way' signs to improve safety seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Fix the roads

April 22, 2008

Dear Sir,

I noticed in the RG Magazine today something dealing with people doing paving work. However, there are still roads that need paving:

1. Mission Lane, Pembroke

2. St. John's Road

Roads that are prone to flooding that need corrected:

1. Road where Masters is located.

2. Woodlands Road

3. Sunset View Road

4. Dutton Ave (Bernard Park Way)

5. Pitts Bay Road (by the Marsh)

Is it possible for these roads to be repaired? I know this won't be easy but, I'm hoping and I'm sure others are too that, there should be improvements in these areas.

ROADS NEED CORRECTING

Pembroke