by Rick Lowe
On Second Thought was a weekly column this blogger wrote for The Bahama Journal from July 7, 1998 through September 7, 1999. Some of them might be dated by now, but I republish them here for what they are worth.
On Second Thought! July 27, 1999.
Idiots’ Day - One day a year!
I vote for one day each year where we obey no traffic laws! Yes you read it correctly…one day a year when traffic laws are disobeyed. Something like dress down Friday’s at the office. You know the day each week that there is no need to wear a uniform.
This special day could be Friday the 13th. I think we get at least one of those each year.
Double parking
Of course we would have to schedule our double parking in the middle of the roadway so we can prevent all other traffic from following their normal driving pattern. We should park in such a fashion that our vehicles rear end is across the middle line causing traffic following us to go around us, thereby causing on-coming traffic to use the pedestrian sidewalk as their thoroughfare. Who cares about pedestrians anyway? If they can’t afford a car, let them walk in the bush!
Jitney’s
All jitneys should drive however they wish. They should pass wherever and whenever they choose, travel at speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone and should be able to stop at any location. All the while travelling in groups of three or four so their clients have to wait for inordinate lengths of time in the sweltering sun or pouring rain for them to arrive.
Motorbikes
On this annual fateful day motorbikes will be given free reign. Wheelies will be permitted along Bay and Shirley Streets. Of course the law pertaining to the use of crash helmets will be set aside for this day because after all, who needs protection when you have to look cool.
Certainly the bikers should be allowed to race between the cars on either side of the street during rush hour to then stop at the light to converse while they block all the vehicles behind them.
I almost forgot, passengers should be hanging off the back seat as if life means nothing more than a motorbike ride.
Roundabouts
Just to add a little more havoc, drivers approaching a roundabout in the left hand turn lane should travel past the immediate exit and continue on the straight away. It would be far too simple to use the left-hand turn lane to turn left.
Traffic lights
When a traffic light is out on this special anniversary there should be a free for all. Traffic coming from all directions should take the right of way. In fact, we should challenge the other drivers to a game of chicken. Any thought to follow the four-way stop rule when a traffic light is out should be cast aside.
Insurance claims
Because of our frivolous driving habits young people are having a much more difficult time obtaining comprehensive insurance for their cars…and justifiably so. Insurance companies suggest that their claims ratios are dramatic. So much so some suggest that motor insurance is more of a problem than the meagre profits are worth. Not to mention the threats of bodily harm when a claim is reduced or declined.
Let’s return to normalcy
Of course the suggestion of a day to disobey our traffic laws is in jest, but these few situations are enacted almost every day, on every street on Nassau. The rules of the road mean absolutely nothing to many drivers…not to mention the possibility of the injuries that might happen to innocent bystanders or pedestrians.
It is often argued that we could pay our national debt off in fines for traffic offences alone if only the law was enforced.
These situations are not the result of familiarity because when we travel abroad we seldom see incidents like these from the locals in other communities. What this indicates to me is a wanton disrespect for the law and the offenders should get their just rewards…traffic violations and hefty fines. If this happens our roads will eventually return to a state of normalcy. Congested normalcy just the same, but normalcy.
