The high incidence of accidents along the Railway Embankment road, which was recently converted to two-way traffic, has raised concerns among users and those who reside in its environs.
Since its December 1 conversion, many writers to this newspaper's letters column have indicated their displeasure over the change.
Among the shortcomings cited were the narrowness of the roadway and blind spots especially when entering the road from the cross streets running from north to south. At the head of several of these corners, bush and other obstructions obscure the view of drivers.
Since its conversion there have been three deaths including those of two children and some thirty accidents with approximately ten persons suffering injuries. This is far above the totals when it was a one-way road.
The junctions on Sheriff Street where David Street and the Embankment highway meet it are sites of heavy traffic congestion especially at peak hours. This zone has traffic flowing in many directions and no traffic signals to aid with an orderly flow. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent David Ramnarine did acknowledge the presence of some blind spots, but stated that these could be successfully navigated with greater caution and less speeding than was currently evident. He was of the opinion that the present structure was adequate for two-way traffic while reiterating the need for users to exercise greater care.
Ramnarine opined that most of the traffic accidents were as a result of the behaviour and attitude of users. Ramnarine stated that many of the collisions could be avoided if drivers observed the speed limit and persons stopped encroaching on the roadway.
He also was critical of pedestrians not observing safety rules including wearing light-coloured clothing at night to be clearly identified. According to Ramnarine, some persons exhibited little regard for their safety, encroaching on the roadway especially in areas where beer gardens were located.
He said that the force had banned lorries from using the road during certain hours and had asked commuters and residents to assist in observing whether the rules were being infringed, and, if possible, to contact the police once such occurrences were observed.
The dangerous junction where Conversation Tree road meets the Embankment road is one of the blind spots for drivers going north and south as bends in the Embankment road and vegetation obscure the view of drivers. (Aubrey Crawford photo)
Stabroek News on Friday travelled along the Embankment Roadway up to its end at Enmore to observe firsthand the nature and pattern of the traffic.
Several areas along the thoroughfare posed hazards as they were littered by building materials including sand, mud and wood. Abandoned vehicles were also seen along with an iron tank in the Lusignan area where a motorcyclist lost his life recently.
In the Buxton area several businessplaces including bars have been sited in close proximity to the roadway.
There was some police presence on the roadway both mobile and stationary in an effort to combat speeding and also to ensure that users are observing the traffic regulations.
Stabroek News also spoke to some stallholders at Paradise and Buxton who stated that the road had become more dangerous since the inception of the two-way system.
Devon Gibbs, who operates a stall at the Paradise market along the Embankment Road, while welcoming the idea of two-way traffic along the former railway line stated that some vehicles, especially minibuses, traverse it at a terrific speed.
Some people, according to Gibbs, had not grown accustomed to having heavy traffic on the road and as such continue to operate as if it is still the old railway line where it was used in an anyhow manner.
He was most concerned about the use of the road by children especially very young ones who are sent alone on errands by parents who don't realize the dangers that exist.
Concern was also expressed about the presence of animals on the Embankment road, which also contributes to many of the accidents.
The roadway, he added, is at its most dangerous during the night when there is little or no police presence and drivers take advantage of this.
He is of the opinion that someone needs to make a careful examination of speeding along the roadway together with the impact of stray animals. It is Gibbs' view that authorities need to examine the option of placing speed humps especially at certain areas to slow the traffic down.
This view was shared by a stallholder at Buxton linetop who felt that it would go a long way to aid in the reduction of accidents which occur on the roadway.
Questioned on the width of the roadway, Gibbs was of the impression that it is too narrow to successfully accommodate vehicular, cycle and pedestrian traffic as persons on foot have had to resort to walking way off the shoulders as a way of protecting themselves.
When it only accommodated one-way traffic, Gibbs stated that many users exercised a greater degree of caution since they were unsure as to whether it was open to two-way traffic.
The first impression that residents got of the change to two-way use, Gibbs stated, was from reading the newspaper since no one discussed the idea with them.
While chatting with the stallholder this newspaper observed the fast rate at which several vehicles traversed the roadway.
At Buxton, stallholder and resident, D Darlington expressed concern over the junction at Company Road and the Embankment highway which he said had experienced several mishaps since the commencement of two-way traffic.
That area alone, according to Darlington, had seen some five accidents the last of which involved a minibus. He pointed to the narrowness of the roadway along with a bridge in that vicinity.
The situation was even more critical with the re-opening of school on Monday with children having to cross the embankment road to attend classes at the temporary building in the area's municipal market.
Using the illustration of a young child proceeding along the roadway, Darlington stated that parents needed to exercise greater caution when sending them on errands. It was his view that the negligence of some parents contributes to accidents.
He is of the opinion that more accidents have been occurring since the initiation of the two-way system while recalling the deaths of two children ages thirteen and five in his village and that of neighbouring Strathspey while attempting to cross the road.
While in favour of having two-way traffic the stallholder is adamant that some control needs to be exercised especially in the village areas. Unlike Gibbs, Darlington stated that there is hardly any police to check on speeding on the roadway.
Chairman of the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Randolph Blair is of the opinion that there is a need for more traffic aids along the roadway.
Pointing to the erased centre line on the roadway, Blair bemoaned the absence of signs to guide motorists along the approximately 13-mile stretch of road.
Denise Dias from the pressure group Mothers in Black termed the Embankment Road a death wish for the New Year while reiterating concerns about the physical characteristics of the structure.
According to Dias, there are too many people including children residing in the area through which the road passes and many of the latter group have no concept of traffic regulation since this is not being taught in schools.
Dias saw the need for urgent action. To this end she suggested the reintroduction of speed humps along with the possibility of making the road accessible only for public transport to be monitored by police authorities or changing it back to one-way status.
Among the shortcomings of the road cited by Dias are its poor lighting, blind spots and the lack of adequate traffic signs. She recommended the installation of traffic lights at the Sheriff Street, David Street and Embankment Road junction which has been cited as one of the most dangerous.
Mothers in Black, she stated, has been protesting the many perils on the country's roads for a year and a half with little being done to remedy the situation.
Working People's Alliance executive, Eusi Kwayana stated that no consultation was initiated with the village councils prior to the development of the roadway.
According to Kwayana, before the commencement of construction of the roadway there should have been an environmental impact assessment study to determine the impact the road would have on the population already existing there.
During the era of the railway line, Kwayana said persons living in the vicinity were knowledgeable of the train schedule or were given clear indications of traffic via the use of a horn. However the present use, he emphasized, is totally different with almost a continuous flow of vehicular traffic now in both directions.
Kwayana was also critical of the notice given indicating the commencement of two-way traffic which he stated was way too short. Among the dangers of the road, according to Kwayana, are the approximately 82 crossings existing along the route which he described as points where accidents can occur.
Meanwhile, traffic accidents on the bypass road, which starts at Enmore on the East Coast Demerara, continue with the latest involving two taxis in the wee hours of the morning of January 2. Both vehicles were badly damaged with one ending up overturned in a nearly trench necessitating the removal of the driver by residents in the immediate vicinity.
The decision to make the embankment into a two-way thoroughfare was said to have been taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs after site visits and a certain amount of consultation with several parties.