Why is it so hard for van drivers to do the right thing?
Our Readers' Opinions
February 4, 2014
Why is it so hard for van drivers to do the right thing?

Tue Feb 04, 2013

Editor: It is said that a picture says a thousand words.

On Friday, January 31st, 2014 the drivers of two passenger vans decided to make a U turn just outside ACE Hardware store to get on the opposite side after leaving the bus terminal. In the photo (above right) it is seen that both drivers trying to beat the other to get in front caused a block in the of the middle road.{{more}} While they tried to manoeuvre to get in the right position, up came a police vehicle with some plain clothes police officers, who, immediately took charge of the situation.

In the second photo (below), the driver of the van on the left had already positioned the van as if it was coming out of Melville Street, while the passenger van on the right was caught in the position it is by the police.

The police were determined that both vans turn around and use the proper route, but somehow the driver of the passenger van on the left convinced the policeman (in plainclothes standing in front of the vehicle) that he was coming out of Melville Street. He was allowed to proceed. The other driver was not so lucky. He had to turn the van around and travel down to Higginson Street, the route they should have taken in the first place.

Well done, Inspector Haynes, P.C Murray and the other officers. You are not traffic officers but you are police who are there to ensure that the law is complied with. You don’t have to be working at traffic to deal with traffic issues. Every policeman/ woman is a traffic police.

That area at the exit of the Little Tokyo bus terminal is a problem with van drivers when there isn’t a policeman there. They will sometimes cross those two solid lines just outside Coreas Mini Mart and head up to the Market just to get in front of each other. When that is not done, they will go down to the crossing and make a U turn on the crossing. Sometimes they do so while pedestrians are using the crossing.

I don’t see why a policeman should have to be placed at every corner or junction to watch drivers to ensure they do the right thing. We are supposed to be more responsible than that.

I am suggesting that a few concrete slabs be placed along those two solid lines just outside of Coreas Mini Mart, thus preventing any vehicle from crossing over to the other side. It is not possible to put a police at every area so you will have to use other methods to prevent these delinquent drivers from breaking the traffic laws.

SKIM