Some laughed. A few understood. Others seethed. Yet despite this public reaction, Mothers In Black, ever resolute in their cause, staged what was a successful `Drive with Care' campaign in and around Georgetown to mark their second anniversary.
In what was a relatively incident-free `Black Friday' activity, three groups of members and supporters of the road safety activist group, Mothers In Black, driving at the legal speed, 30 mph\48 kph, forced traffic along the lower East Coast Public Road into ordered submission for the better part of two hours on Friday.
Some in memory of their lost loved ones and others out of concern for the safety of all road users, made up the small group, which participated in yesterday's activity.
Mike De Castro, a 40-year-old father of two was one such participant. There to support what he deemed a good cause, De Castro was of the view that the activity was an opportunity to "try to make the roads safer."
Meanwhile, the activity held more significance for 43-year-old Lucille Bacchus, who lost her two teenage children, Wallie and Farina, in the carnage on the roadways. She was hoping that Friday's activity would be a chance to make drivers more aware of the fact that speed kills and to encourage compliance with the speed limit.
Mothers In Black member Denise Dias also echoed similar sentiments, describing the purpose of the activity as relaying the message that speed kills. She offered the opinion that if drivers would conform to the idea that there is no need to speed, accidents on the roadways would be reduced by 90%.
The groups which were part of Friday's activity travelled along three prescribed routes: from Houston to Providence and back; Houston to Seawall, Sheriff Street and back; and Plaisance to Le Meridien Pegasus and back.
The third group, travelling along the Plaisance to Le Meridien route and including Dias, began their campaign at 3:15 pm, from Dias' Oleander Gardens home. Initially comprising six vehicles, the group was at first extended along the East Coast Public Road, and initially drew curious looks from both pedestrians and motorists and seemed to have little, if any impact, on several determined drivers.
Overtaking was a regular occurrence en route to Le Meridien Pegasus, especially along Carifesta Avenue, where many drivers manoeuvred around members of the motorcade, quickly accelerating as they broke free of the small group.
However, on their return to Plaisance, traffic was soon subdued along the Public Road, as nearly 20 vehicles, comprising mainly mini-buses plying the Georgetown\ East Coast routes, were all forced into an orderly procession along the road.
Vehicles in the motorcade had occupied the double-lane public road, preventing overtaking. Many drivers tried in vain to overtake the vehicles, often becoming angry, while others, out of sheer frustration, submitted to the legal pace of the flow of traffic. While this continued on the public road, some drivers once again took their liberty along Carifesta Avenue.
As the motorcade moved back to the East Coast Public Road it once again forced traffic to yield, but as it approached the Sparendaam Police Station it was directed to the side of the road by a police rank. An inspector of police emerged from the station and informed Dias that she "could not be all over the road," preventing vehicles from passing.
Further, the officer told Dias that persons had called into the station to complain. However, after this incident the group continued with the campaign until 5:10 pm.
Speaking with Stabroek News following the activity, Dias related that she was quite pleased with what the group achieved and reported that a similar activity, one which would hopefully include more vehicles, would be staged before Christmas. (Andre Haynes)