Essay on Road Safety

Road accidents have been and will continue to be one of the greatest health hazards. Statistically,
it has been shown that the number of death and injuries due to road accidents has been steadily
increased within the past five years. In 2002, drivers accounted for 32% of persons killed in
Trinidad and Tobago. Fatalities and injuries within the past two years have exceeded other years by
a vast number. It has now reached a grand total of 199 in 2002, significantly greater than its total,
fiveorsixyearsago.

Why must road accidents in Trinidad be considered a norm? There are many causes of road
accidents but, personally, I think the most important factor which contributes to road accidents is
the irresponsibility of the drivers. Driving an automobile is a privilege, which many people succeed
to abuse. Anything that may impair one’s ability to make wise decisions should never be mixed with
driving. This is when a driver should practice “social responsibility.”

Drivers must at all times, abide by the safety regulations of the road and most importantly stick to
the speed limits or stick to a speed which will allow one to stop within a safe distance. Drivers must,
most importantly, take responsibility for themselves at all times. By this I mean, they must know
that they should not drive if they feel tired, sick, drunk or upset. They must also ensure that the
appropriate eye wear or hearing aid be worn if necessary. Patience is a quality in which drivers must
exercise. They must be cautious especially on wet roads, pedestrian crossings and junctions.

Typical examples of drivers practicing unsafe habits are, drivers who cut people off in traffic or
attempt to run out the amber traffic light. Another example of this occurs when drivers don’t give
the right of way to anyone especially when coming when coming onto highways or going around a
round-about or even by giving the pedestrians the right of way at a pedestrian crossing. All of these
things contribute to a driver’s “social responsibility.

Driver distraction and inattention are important driving safety issues. Within the past five years, the
use of in-vehicle technologies for example the cell phone and the pager, became more popular. The
cell phone, primarily, causes a concern about a concomitant increase in driver distraction. Billboards
and artifacts from roadsides also contribute greatly to the distraction.

Drivers however are not the only ones to be blamed. Pedestrians have traditionally accounted for
many deaths on the road. During the past five years, pedestrians have accounted for at least 30%
of road accidents. Pedestrians must, at all times, walk on walkways and cross the main roads and
highways with extreme caution always giving the right of way to cars approaching.

Even if a driver is responsible and cautious, who is to blame if an accident still occurs? Drivers
cannot drive safely in unsafe conditions. Another factor which contributes to road accidents is the
condition of the roads and infrastructure of the country. The government should ensure that there is
adequate maintenance of our infrastructure. Impediments on roads cause drivers to lose control
over their vehicles and force drivers to make illegal moves.

It should also be ensured, by the government, that the roads of a country are well lighted in the
night. Some drivers are unable to see oncoming vehicles in time and thus collide causing death or
injury. Areas of congestion are also a common location for road injuries. Even though, patience in
traffic plays the major role in preventing road accidents in traffic, another role should be played by
the government, in preventing excessive traffic. It is a known fact that officials in the Licensing
Office take bribes from students who want to obtain their license faster. These bribes must be
stoppedNo amount of money is worth a life!

There are many solutions to the problems stated earlier. Firstly and most importantly, the driver’s
attitude has to change. The driver should always be patient, responsible and cautious. He should
ensure that all the fittings in the car be in such a manner as not to cause or to be likely to cause,
danger to any person in the vehicle or on the public road. In other words, he should always have
“social responsibility.”

Secondly, the government is in charge of making a country a safe place to drive in. The government
should ensure that there is proper maintenance of infrastructure. Should impediments such as pot
holes, branches etc be removed, roads will be made safer to a significant degree. Maintenance of
infrastructure should also include properly functioning lights on roadways for night drivers and
properly maintained street signs and traffic directing arrows. To reduce accidents due to speeding,
there should be more effective mechanisms to detect speed for example hidden cameras at traffic
lights and radar systems.

It should be made mandatory that all drivers in Trinidad and Tobago take courses on defensive
driving. There should be more police on the road during the night taking random breathalyzer tests
to determine if the drivers are intoxicated. Billboards and other artifacts must be removed from
major roads to reduce driver distraction. The use of cell phones while driving should be banned for
this, primarily contributes to driver distraction. In order to avoid excessive traffic congestion, the
government should make the highways wider for many accidents are caused in the build up of
traffic.

The most effective solutions to road safety related problems integrate the driver, the vehicle, the
road and environmental considerations. Improvements in road safety can best be achieved through
consultation and co operation with specific levels of government, industry and the public. All users
of the transportation system must share responsibility for safety. Recently, road accidents have
increased drastically and should be really considered a major health hazard of today.