De Macajuel

We are all appalled and dismayed at the tragic loss of life last Sunday evening in Sea Lots. If the driver was indeed drunk, I hope he is brought to justice and held accountable for his actions. 

I feel though that I must comment on the assertion that the installation of  an overhead crosswalk is going to solve the problem of pedestrian fatalities on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway. Come on people, this is still Trinidad we’re dealing and part of the problem is that It’s full of Trinis; otherwise defined as a culture of people that still think and act like Trinidadians. 

That means that despite the possible construction of a walkover, guess who still won’t use it like they’re supposed to?

Exactly

Guess who will continue to ignore zebra crossings and cross busy highways whenever and wherever they feel? The “bounce meh nah” attitude is pervasive and honestly, that needs to change. 

But pedestrian error isn’t the issue here is it? Nope drunk driving (allegedly) is. The six unfortunate victims of this  senseless carnage weren’t behaving like the aforementioned Trinidadians; they weren’t randomly crossing the street nor were they lollygagging in the road, they were all within the one place that pedestrians should feel safe and secure, the sidewalk. 

Trinidad and Tobago has made significant strides within the past decade to deal with the issue of drunk driving that is so prevalent in our culture. We’ve seen the use of breathalyzer devices by law enforcement not to mention the many laws now in place to prevent the consumption of alcohol and the possession of open containers in motor vehicles. 

But more must be done. I can only hope that in light of this accident, that these people didn’t die in vain, that their demise would have led to a change in the way Trinidadians view safety and responsibility on our nation’s roads.