Potholes: motorists worst 2010 nag

IT'S A NEW year, and as motorists there are things we would like to change. For some, it may be driving habits. For others, it may be a desire to see a transformation of the deplorable road conditions or even the erecting of more road signs to help travellers find unfamilar places.

Jermaine Dallas, security officer said he has been driving for over seven years and would like to see better road conditions.

"I would love to see better roads in some communities that we have to drive through. Even the recent heavy rains weh fall the other day, you wouldn't believe how some of the roads look in some of the rural areas. They still haven't been fixed," Dallas said.

"It would seem like they only focus on improving the highways and other roads that they can make money from, but they need to treat other roads the same and whitewash some of the sidewalks and let the roads look presentable when it comes on to year end, not just some place, but everywhere," he said.

Neil Stephens, a nine-year taxi driver, expresses disgust towards impatient motorists on the roads, and hope they will change their ways in the new year.

"Drivers need to exercise more patience pon di road. Is like dem cyaa wait," Stephens said. "Some a dem don't like to wait to mek pedestrians cross. If I stop to allow a pedestrian to cross, some driver behind mi just drive roun' mi, an dat can cause accidents," he said.

Stephens also said motorists are rushing through the amber light of the stoplight which he also said is very dangerous.

"Ive seen alot of near misses at the stoplights. Whenever they see the stoplight go on amber, they just rush through the stoplight right before it turns red."

More issues

"Two more issues that I'd like to see change in the new year, is that I would like there to be more focus on the roads in the inner city and not only on the highway."

"Also, the bridge where they put up at Marcus Garvey Drive, right at the Tinson Pen Airport, it should not be there because no one uses it. But, right where the road is blocked off at the Greenwich Farm gas station on Marcus Garvey Drive going to the Kingston Wharf, that's where they should put up the bridge. That is where the pedestrians are crossing," the taxi-driver said.

For this year, Stephens hopes to wear his seat belt every time he's driving.

"I 'd like to start wearing my seat belt when I'm driving. I know I should do it, but sometimes I don't, so, that's what I want to change for this year," Stephens added.

Basil Nelson, another taxi driver, echoes the sentiments of both Dallas and Stephens as it relates to better road conditions.

"The roads really need to be taken care of. I am tired of having to buy frontend parts for my car all the while. The potholes are a major problem," Nelson said.

"You have reckless and dangerous drivers on the road, who would break out of the line in traffic and go onto the side of the roads, and driving while on their cellphones. I'm also guilty of this. I think it would be a lot safer if we used earpiece for the phones, so we can concentrate more on the road," said Nelson, who has driving for 15 years.

Publicist Angella Blair said that she has been driving for over 13 years and bad road conditions have been at the top of her list of things she would want to be rectified on the roads.

"The roads are really bad and it causes a lot of car problems as you have to be servicing your car all the time," she said. "That's like the biggest problem with our Jamaican roads."

Blair went on to say that motorists need to refrain from using their cellphones while they drive.

"Especially, while using BlackBerry Messenger. They need to put that they are driving in their BBM statuses, so persons know not to message them at that time."

"I am not a roadhog, I am a really good person on the road, so for this year I'll just keep being the good driver that I am," Blair added.

- Laranzo Dacres