In the wake of the horrific accident involving a Westbury Primary School student, we are once again confronted with a harsh reality: our roads have become increasingly hostile to anyone not ensconced within the metal cocoon of a motor car. This incident is not an isolated occurrence but a symptom of a deeper malaise afflicting our nation – the rising arrogance of a car-centric public policy.
Our government races to mill and pave and resurface to enable middle-class suburbanites to connect faster with urban centres. Like Toad of Toad Hall, Kenneth Graeme’s fictional creation, merrily many roll along in shiny new motors, zipping past, cutting off and jamming through road and roundabout.
Then comes the image that makes the blood of any parent and guardian run cold: a child being tossed into the air by a car, a stark reminder of the vulnerability of flesh and bone and blood in the face of steel and glass and rubber. We must also assume that such a collision was harrowing for the hapless motorist. Yet, despite the shock and outrage, collisions continue to occur with alarming frequency. Then, there is the recent spate of hit-and-run accidents, some fatal, which points to a disturbing trend of driver impunity and disregard for human life.
It is not only individual drivers but our current traffic and infrastructure policies to blame. These policies reflect an outdated paradigm that prioritises the swift movement of vehicles over the safety and convenience of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. Increasingly smooth roads cut through residential areas and school zones, while non-existent sidewalks force pedestrians to navigate treacherous conditions.
This car-centric approach is not only dangerous but also unsustainable. As our population grows and urbanisation increases, we cannot continue to accommodate ever-increasing numbers of private vehicles without severely compromising our quality of life and the character of our communities. Not all voters drive.
We need to reimagine our approach to urban planning and public transport in which the authorities implement policies that prioritise the safety and convenience of all road users, not just motorists.
Can you imagine a Barbados where children can safely walk to school, where cyclists commute without fear, and where our elders can stroll to the shop without risking their lives? We can. This vision is not a utopian fantasy, but an achievable reality – if we have the courage and foresight to embrace change.
This means lowering speed limits in residential areas and school zones, investing in safe pedestrian crossings, and doing more, much more to make our roads safer for bicycles. It means improving public transport to reduce our reliance on private vehicles and implementing more traffic calming measures in high-risk areas.
But infrastructure alone is not enough. We need a cultural shift, a reawakening of our collective responsibility to one another.
Walking and cycling can be promoted not just as leisure activities but as legitimate and respected modes of daily transport. Such a shift requires both infrastructure improvements and a change in societal mindset. We suggest a more humane infrastructure with more sensible speed humps rather than the spartan bumps and pedestrian crossings that are observed more in the breach than in practice.
Better roads do not only mean smoother surfaces for wheels but features that make a journey on foot not fraught with peril.
The incident outside Westbury Primary is a wake-up call. We cannot continue to sacrifice the safety of our citizens on the altar of motorist convenience. We must reclaim our roads and create a more equitable, safe, and sustainable transport system for all Barbadians – before another tragedy forces our hand.
The post The tyranny of the motor car: Reclaim our roads for all appeared first on Barbados Today.
