Ten points on road safety

October 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

I have lived in Bermuda now for almost 20 years and I have seen significant deterioration in many areas of island life. To illustrate I offer my observations and some possible solutions on one of these areas ? road traffic. This is particularly relevant now due to the recent spate of serious accidents which are almost a daily occurrence. What is the point of passing laws that are not going to be enforced? Tinted windows (remember all the fuss and promises), speed limits, seat belts, children on the front of bikes, noisy bikes, double and illegal parking, driving without due care and attention (cell phones).

I honestly think Bermudian drivers are some of the most selfish I have witnessed. I am constantly amazed and angered by the nerve of double-parkers on the busiest streets at the busiest times and of course never a policeman in sight. Not even on Parliament Street just up from the police station! Does anybody know what a double yellow line means?

1. An increase in traffic police is needed and could be self financing with increased fines and volumes of tickets issued. Some of the traffic police should be on foot on the Hamilton streets.

2. The speed limit is meaningless. Has anybody ever been fined for 40K? Have a realistic speed limit of 50K, which apparently is the unofficial limit that is occasionally enforced. But really enforce it.

3. Have a points system, as well as fines, for all traffic offences with an automatic ban after so many points. Increase fines. Create a deterrent.

4.Too many cars. Why was the second-hand car policy changed? This increased the cars on the road as people moved from bikes to now affordable and available second hand cars. Plus the increase in houses means more cars. The result is that there is absolutely no pleasure in driving today. It is a stressful experience used only for getting from A to B. Would the government have the nerve to reverse the policy?

5. And too big. Another classic move by the Government bowing to pressure from the car dealers. How could the Senate agree to this? There are plenty of cars which meet the previous size standards but that would be a pain for the dealers. The result is cars squeezing along roads which are too small. They also seem to have great difficulty keeping to their side of the centre line. And watch out if you are a pedestrian or road runner; you take your life in your hands as vehicles insist on squeezing through as they pass each other, rather than giving way in accordance with the law. If I wanted my legs shaved I would do it myself!

6. There seems to have been a proliferation of American style trucks with the IN and HA plates. I'm not sure what criteria are used for allowing such vehicles but perhaps they should be revisited or at least strictly applied.

7. Bigger (and faster) bikes. I am strongly in favour of environmental protection but this was not the way to do it. Set an emission standard and enforce it for two- and four-stroke bikes. Retain the 100cc limit. There are 100cc four-stroke bikes but alas they are apparently too slow! The emission standard must apply to tourist bikes. Is there any point mentioning noise pollution from bikes that have been illegally altered? Enforce the law with fines and points.

8. A lot of bike riders seem to have a death wish, which I don't have problem with as long as they don't harm anyone else. Unfortunately they often do. You can witness daily the most dangerous, brainless manoeuvres. People found guilty of such should be fined and banned because next time they may kill someone. The law should be amended accordingly but that's another subject!

9. Diesel emissions. I understand there are some standards but have never been aware of any enforcement. As a bike rider (100cc) I frequently find myself behind fume-spewing diesel vehicles. Roll on the new TCD testing centre!

10. Are bus drivers instructed to drive with their left hand on the coin drop because they all do it? Except for the one time I saw a driver with a cell phone in his left hand! Generally the drivers drive aggressively and too fast. Can they actually keep to the timetable if they keep to the speed limit? Retraining and enforcement required.

It seems the deterioration is allowed to continue unabated and ignored. Please will the government, Road Safety Council, police, courts, the public and other interested parties get together and make some tough decisions to make our roads safer. Perhaps then we may also enjoy driving again.

Referendum on referenda?

October 1, 2004

Dear Sir,

Your paper has carried several items recently about deciding by referendum or general election whether Bermuda goes independent or not, and what the political parties want or do not want. What about what the people of Bermuda want? Every opinion poll I have ever seen about constitutional change has been overwhelmingly in favour of a referendum. Perhaps we need a referendum to decide whether to have a referendum.

Complaint about PTB driver

October 11, 2004

Dear Sir,

Many tourists have written over the years to comment on the excellent service provided by Bermuda's bus drivers. They praise their friendliness and the safe manner in which they manoeuvre these large vehicles on our tiny roads. This is not one of those letters. I am writing to you because in recent months I have taken the bus on numerous occasions and encountered some of the nicest and some of the rudest bus drivers around. This morning was one of those occasions.

I waited patiently for a bus into Hamilton around 11.15 a.m. on Middle Road, Paget, just east of Ice Queen Restaurant. The sun was beating down and I thought I would sit on the bench provided in the shelter there. Soon, a young lady joined me and we exchanged pleasantries about the weather and how soon the bus might come. From my perch on the edge of the bench, I would see traffic approaching from the west, although the view is slightly obstructed by the overgrowth of trees on the side of the road.

About 11.30 a.m. I looked up to notice a bus roaring past the stop. We both raised our hands and somehow the driver was able to stop just beyond the bus stop. As we began to board the bus, before either of us could say "Good morning." The driver started yelling at us. "Please know that when you're in Bermuda you cannot stand inside a shelter because I can't see you."

My reply was: "Then what is the purpose of a shelter? Perhaps if you were not barreling down the road as if you are the only one on the road, you may have seen us sitting there." Both the young lady and I found our seats at the back of the bus. The driver continued her diatribe from the point all the way into Hamilton, loud enough for the persons sitting in the first few rows to be listening, laughing and occasionally looking back at the two of us. Across the aisle from me were a tourist couple who commented on the maniacal way this bus operator had been driving since they were picked up at Southampton Princess.

When I rang the bell to disembark on Front Street, I decided I would say something to the bus driver. I stopped and told her that I was not a tourist, as she expected, and that over the years I had encountered many rude drivers but that she was undoubtedly the worst. I also told her that she may have thought it funny to amuse her 'friends' who were sitting in the front rows of the bus, but her behaviour was out of line.

This driver, started shouting at me to: "Have a nice day." As I got off the bus, there was a local man and another couple of tourists getting off. The local man told me that she had said a similar thing to another young lady earlier in the ride and that she was driving like a lunatic, and he, too, had a mind to report her for her behaviour. The tourists said they had never encountered such an experience before in their life.

He wondered how such a person could even be in public service with such an attitude and continue to work. My suggestion is that should she wake up some morning on the wrong side of the bed, perhaps she should stay home and think about why she is fortunate enough to have a job, and should she feel that she can't handle dealing with the public ? by just doing her job ? then this is certainly the job for her.

Crack down on loud cycles

October 15, 2004

Dear Sir,

Despite the fact that I've rang the police repeatedly to complain, nothing seems to get done about these ear-splittingly loud bikes and the people who race them on our public roads and neighbourhoods. Perhaps it is time to remind the motoring public, especially our young people, what the penalties are if caught with "loud parts" on their bikes.

Maybe the traffic police should issue an advisory/warning in all the local newspapers and on TV so that everybody will know what the laws are in regards to this daily menace. That way if someone is stopped and they have their bike impounded (which they should start doing again), the cannot use ignorance as an excuse.

Carriage horses are healthy

October 13, 2004

Dear Sir,

On reading the article regarding the comments made by Dr. Madeiros, Shelter Chairman of the S.P.C.A. he appeared to be unaware of the correct name of the Horse Lovers League. This name is an important one in the history of the S.P.C.A. The Horse Lovers League was the organisation that actually donated the land where the S.P.C.A. stands. This land was given on the understanding that needy horses would always have a temporary shelter.

That is why all through my tenure as President of the S.P.C.A. we always maintained two lovely box stalls in the building and the open space to the South reserved for that purpose. There is, actually, a bronze plaque on the pillar commemorating the Horse Lovers League and their generosity.

I was somewhat saddened at the possible suggestion by Dr. Madeiros of the possibility of carriage horses not being allowed to work during the heat of the summer. This, to me, would be a great shame for the following reasons.

The carriage horses in Hamilton are in excellent condition.

These horse when working seldom do anything more than a walk.

The areas of sightseeing are Serpentine Road, Richmond Road, Pitts Bay Road and Fairylands. At least 60 percent of these roads are in shade. Except for two small exceptions there is not a hill in sight. It is the bread and butter for many. It is far better for the horses to get out rather than leave them shut in their stalls or tied under trees. It is of historical importance to keep one of Bermuda's oldest heritages going.

My apologies, but I cannot speak for the St. George's drivers as I have no knowledge of the condition of their animals. However, I fully back and support Sandra Outerbridge in her continuing effort to ensure that the horse and carriages have shade and water in the Old Town. I am sure the UN World Heritage organisation would be equally pleased. During the summer months I know that many of us get fed up trailing along behind a horse and carriage. However, a minute is not a long time to give for one of Bermuda's oldest professions.