Editor,

I learnt with shock and disappointment about the latest carnage, which happened along the Barra – Kerewan Highway. This shocking development goes to emphasize how urgent the issue of road accident needs redress.

Realistically, I admit that it will not be possible to stop road accidents altogether, but we can reduce it to a tolerable level. This is only possible, however, if we can revisit our license issuing regulations.

By this I mean that the police department has a lot to play, to ensure that some of these accidents cases are prevented. Many people drive when, under normal circumstances, they should not be qualified for driver’s license.

Some people boast of getting their license even without going through regular driving test. Money controls the system. I think that the police-driver relationship also needs overhauling. It is a common place to see trucks, filled to brim, recklessly plying the roads. Many of these are without the correct document, yet you rarely see the traffic police as close to these truck drivers as you see them with small commercial vehicle drivers.

Can you imagine a Lorry running into a smaller vehicle from behind? Something must have gone wrong with the driver. Either he was drunk or he was over speeding. Time and again, it has been made clear that it is better to arrive late and safe, than to arrive early and dead.

Another point I want to emphasize is that drivers these days show little respect for lives of pedestrians. This is why we should fight the menace, because you never know who the next victim is; it can be you, me or close relatives of any one of us. To make a greater impact, I call on the National transport union to join hand in the crusade, and they should focus on vigorous sensitization campaign about road safety.

Lamin Kintey

Kukujang