Monday, 1st March 2021 — Lately, I’ve observed the driving habits of people in the Anguilla community. It’s amazing what individuals do when behind steering wheels of vehicles and handlebars of motorbikes. How some persons got their driver’s licences, I don’t know.
Are we unaware how our driving habits impact the people around us? Do we not know the rules of the road or intentionally disobey them? Maybe we’re too busy chatting on our mobile phones or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We really need to be more cognisant of how we drive on Anguilla’s roads and where we park the vehicles driven.
Why am I concerned about how people drive? Because when persons do not obey the rules, it causes a hazard for individuals who follow them. We, who adhere to regulations, have to drive more defensively because of those who seem to care less how their driving affects other drivers as well as pedestrians, cyclists and animals.
As a person who learned to drive in a large country with high-speed freeways and massive traffic jams, I am accustomed to dealing with multiple lanes on roads that require a driver’s full attention. So, I like to stay alert and be appropriately responsive when I am driving. Our minds and eyesight can easily be distracted by other matters whenever we are behind the wheel of a car, lorry, van or bus and handle bars of a motorcycle or ATV. So, we must be attentive.
Our ignoring or not adhering to rules of the road, we’re taught, can either cause an accident, injuries or someone’s death. In our small community of 35-square miles, we’ve had far too many vehicular accidents – some of which involved deaths.
All of us observe people’s driving habits and sometimes comment on how people drive. I’ll elaborate on somethings I’ve noticed, and which were brought to my attention by other drivers. At JW Proctor’s supermarket, there’s a handicapped space near the entrance. Citizens have noticed able-bodied individuals parking in this designated place, or blocking the walking ramp, impeding persons who need to use them.
Having driven my father to various places when he was wheelchair bound, and my mother who has the aid of a walker, I am cognisant of laws regarding handicapped parking and the necessity of having these specially designated spaces to park vehicles. When unable to find a place close to a building entryway, it’s cumbersome for the person pushing the wheelchair or for someone using a walker or crutches.
In Anguilla, we have elderly and disabled persons who need to use handicapped parking spots – or to park close to the entrances of businesses, churches, government offices and various venues. We need to be courteous leaving handicapped parking open for people who must utilise it, and be mindful not to block ramps used to push grocery carts and wheelchairs.
Other concerns that people, who abide by driving laws, have recently noticed happening, with greater frequency, are drivers parking illegally when going to use the Bank ATMs, stopping in the middle of the road, not sticking to the left side of the road, not signalling with indicators when making a turn, not yielding to vehicles on the right in the roundabouts, overtaking more than one vehicle, tailgating and talking on mobiles whilst driving.
Earlier last month, I had to pull off to the side of the road when a driver drove much too close behind my vehicle. I stepped on the brakes to get the driver to back off and give more space between our two automobiles – not even putting on the hazard lights did the trick. He or she remained close to my mini-SUV’s rear bumper.
It has been a long time since I’ve seen the Royal Anguilla Police Force Officers standing by the roadside stopping vehicles. As well, I have not seen RAPF Officers walking the streets and patrolling beats throughout the districts. Perhaps I am just not out and about when they are performing these duties. Yet, I propose Officers need to be out giving warnings, issuing tickets with substantial fines. Some drivers may require driver’s re-education lessons in order to create more road safety for everyone.
As more accidents and deaths are occurring from drivers’ negligence ,or disobeying rules of the road, we must exercise more caution, be aware and defensive in driving, and be socially responsible.
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Kay M Ferguson is a mindful writer, who writes under the nom de plume Empress Extraordinaire, composing words to enlighten and uplift humanity. Connect with her on social media — Facebook and LinkedIn or email anguillawriter@gmail.com.
