Commuters disregarded on pedestrian crossings says ASP

A wide cross section of motorists in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have no respect for civilians using pedestrian crossings, and adhering to traffic laws like stop signs, right-of-way and yielding rules.

This, according to Officer in-charge of traffic, transport and garage, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Parnel Browne, is because the fines attached to traffic offences are miniscule compared to what is dished out in other countries.

The ASP told SEARCHLIGHT recently in a wide-ranging interview that he is lobbying for stiffer penalties on several charges, including cellular phone usage while driving, violations involving pedestrian crossings, and reckless driving.

“You fail to stop at a pedestrian crossing and the law say you must pay $50. How could that compensate for the injuries or death or the pain you might cause someone?” Browne questioned.

“Motorists do not have respect for pedestrians while they are crossing. I am seeing motorists are competing with pedestrians on a crossing and even stopping on a pedestrian crossing, and when you ask them why they stop on the pedestrian crossing, they say the traffic ahead stopped so they stop…disrespectful responses,” the Senior officer charged.

“You have to know the space and the length of your vehicle. Motorists are competing with pedestrians… someone is crossing, they (motorists) are seeing if they could drive pass before the pedestrian reach their side of the road.”

The traffic police says that drivers need to understand the law says that on approaching a pedestrian crossing, if a person is approaching the crossing with the intention to cross, you have to stop and allow them to cross.

“…but sometimes you have people on the crossing and motorists still driving…we have prosecuted a few persons who struck persons on the crossing while driving, quite a few persons,” the ASP revealed.

He, however, noted that a pedestrian crossing is not a place where a pedestrian should idle, as it is a part of the road designated for civilians to cross from one side of the road to the other in good time.

“Don’t stand on the crossing using your phone. It is not for you to do that. Cross in quick time unless you are disabled and have to spend extra time,” ASP Browne advised.

He touched also on the “STOP sign” which means that a motorist should come to a complete stop and check their surroundings before moving off, but a lot of drivers do not adhere to this rule.

The ASP explained that stop signs are placed in areas that are seen as blind spots for motorists, and not adhering to these signs is dangerous.

He added also that drivers coming out of side roads and gaps, onto main roads have been causing a lot of accidents due to recklessly trying to merge with traffic that has the right-of-way.

“I am seeing a trend with motorists. When they are exiting junctions, a vehicle will be 10/15 feet away from an intersection, and a man will just speed out of an intersection without being given the okay by the oncoming traffic.

“…it is wrong for you exiting an intersection or a junction where vehicles are on the main driving and you just take a chance and just slip out, and you would look to the person as if you have the right of way,” ASP Browne complained.

He said acts of this nature are causing “a lot” of accidents and people need to be more responsible.