Last weekend saw five people killed on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway in the most distressing of circumstances. Whatever the details surrounding this particular tragedy, the carnage revealed just how unsafe our roads have become.

One vehicle travelling west ended up in the line of traffic moving in the opposite direction, killing the driver of that vehicle and four other persons – all young people.

Two days later, in a similar fashion, a car travelling along Chin Chin Road, Cunupia, spun out of control hitting a parked van which, in turn, caused another vehicle to overturn and forced several people on the roadside to scamper to safety.

Last week’s suggestion by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Traffic, Donaldy Ferguson, that defensive driving training should form part of the qualification process for a driving permit has merit.

For a start, corporations can establish such a policy for drivers of company vehicles. “How is my driving” stickers on the rear of company vehicles are no cure for bad driving.

Good defensive driving requires that one does not drive too slow or too fast: doing so increases the likelihood of a collision. Good technique requires that the defensive driver keep an eye on faster traffic approaching from the rear and not pull out in front of it.

The defensive driver also knows that the fellow motorist with a cell phone stuck to his or her ear will not be fully alert and so drives accordingly.

The defensive driver assumes the worst in other drivers – for example, that the driver indicating he or she will turn may in fact not, and that the one who gives no indication may well do so.

But defensive driving requires that basic driving skills be mastered first. It seems though that many drivers on our nation’s roads have not properly learned the rules of the road and the basic mechanics of driving.

Pedestrian crossings

Courtesy on the road is part of defensive driving but goes beyond it. And it is there that change needs to begin. When proper attitudes are practised on the road our children and youth will appropriate them. Having a real regard for other persons on the road is true Christian behaviour.

The authorities too must continue to work relentlessly at making our roadways as safe as possible. More needs to be done to educate drivers and pedestrians.

Many drivers are unsure of the actions they should take when they come to a ‘yellow box junction’. Too many pay little heed to pedestrian crossings.

This is clearly demonstrated at probably one of the most busy points in Port of Spain, the South Quay hub of the Public Transport Service Corporation, where pedestrians cross at any point that is convenient, ignoring the areas specially marked out for them and without due attention to the traffic lights at the intersection.

It is an area that is in need of special attention. It may be helpful to introduce a set of traffic lights at a strategic point at the front of the terminus to ensure that traffic comes to a halt, for the sake of pedestrians wishing to cross the roadway – but for the protection of all.

On this the Solemnity of the Trinity, a feast of particular importance to us the people of Trinidad and Tobago, let us recall that we have been called to become a body that reflects the Trinity – the communion of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The loss of life on the roads – the pain that it brings to so many families – must concern us all. Our nation will reap certain benefits from its citizens sharing a resolve to behave more responsibly on the roads.