Somewhere in this island, some silly motorist has just driven through a red traffic light. The inane practice has become as commonplace as locals feasting on pudding and souse on Saturdays. It is a habit, though, that can shorten one’s Saturdays – permanently.
International data with respect to vehicular accidents indicate that thousands of motorists and pedestrians lose lives, limbs, mobility or vehicles, as a result of accidents at intersections, and particularly due to persons driving swiftly through red lights.
The other equation to that is the practice of increasing one’s speed at amber to beat the red light, rather than decreasing speed to respect what that specific traffic direction signifies. It is a major problem in Barbados.
Though we are not aware of any local study conducted by the Barbados Police Service or the insurance fraternity on the subject here, from observations, reports from our law courts, and the complaints of those in the insurance business, it is quite evident that Barbadian motorists running red lights has reached crisis proportions and there is a need for brakes to be applied to the practice.
In the United States of America where several studies have been conducted on this issue, it has been found that the states with the highest number of vehicular accidents are those with the greatest instances of motorists running red lights.
It was estimated that about 260 000 red light running crashes occurred annually in the US, of which approximately 750 resulted in fatalities.
However, In 2020, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recorded that 928 people were killed in crashes, including pedestrian accidents, resulting from running red lights. Further, it found that 116 000 people were injured in accidents due to drivers running red lights.
But what can be done to educate Barbadians as to the absolute danger of the practice? One could not be faulted for arriving at an opinion that only a complete imbecile would not be aware of the inherent dangers involved in the practice and why there should be a need to teach adults the ABCs of safe driving.
Unfortunately, those who perpetuate this nonsense are not the only victims of the practice. Innocent pedestrians, other motorists, and even those travelling in the vehicles of such brainless drivers, are adversely affected when such indifferent usage of our roads occurs.
Therefore, a concentrated educational programme involving the police, insurance companies and the Ministry of Transport and Works would not hurt the situation but could only help. Perhaps, the media has an additional role to play in this scenario by seeking out people – villains and victims – seriously affected by the practice and have their stories told for the benefit of those willing to learn.
In addition to education, though, there ought to be a punitive element in the effort to drastically reduce or hopefully eradicate the practice of running red lights. In several countries, including Barbados, automatic cameras have been installed at traffic lights to monitor road users and traffic offenders.
This technology ought to be used in a very robust manner. Motorists who drive through red traffic lights can be photographed, the necessary investigations carried out and relevant summons issued to offenders. These cases should be heavily publicised so that the message be spread that the eyes of the authorities are ever present at our intersections.
Data from a number of US states indicate that such use of technology is having an impact and reducing such accidents. Barbadians often increase speed at the traffic lights, not because of any emergency or need to get anywhere on time, but frequently because of a lack of patience and mainly through an ample dose of ignorance.
The belief is that they can beat the red light or be through swiftly enough to avoid motorists coming from the opposite direction. They pay no attention to the possibility that their thoughts are being mirrored by the driver coming from that other direction, and therefore the precursor to disaster.
With the practice so fraught with danger, we wonder why Barbadian motorists continue to engage in running red lights. If they are not willing to protect their own lives, perhaps the time is right for authorities to protect them from themselves, and the other road users too.
And as we enter the long Christmas weekend when many will be on the roads, making their way to and from various events, we plead with Barbadians to drive safely, to protect their lives and the lives of others.
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