radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Faced with a 25 per cent increase in road traffic fatalities, engineers from the Ministry of Works and Transport are now revisiting dangerous roadways across the country to find ways of improving safety.
The M2 Ring Road, Macoya Intersection, Debe Roundabout and several points along the Solomon Hochoy Highway have been pinpointed as the most dangerous roadways in the country because of the frequency of serious vehicular accidents in those areas.
T&T Police Service Road Safety Coordinator Sgt Brent Batson yesterday told Guardian Media there have been 36 deaths this year and he believes basic safety, such as installation of rumble strips, proper lighting and improvement of road surface infrastructure, can all contribute to safety.
However, he also says since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and pandemic frustration is heightened, motorists have been taking more risks driving under the influence, going above the speed limit and engaging in reckless driving.
Asked what could be done to improve safety in these areas, Sgt Batson said there are varying recommendations made by the TTPS Traffic Management Division, including public education.
“Just before the Debe Roundabout, the speed limit drops and there are multiple signs saying reduce speed, which drops to 60 km. Drivers need to pay more attention to signage,” Batson said.
Told that some of the signs were covered with vines and not visible, Batson explained: “We have also recommended increased lighting. I know the Ministry of Works is supposed to be doing a site visit and is looking at the possibility of implementing rumble strips at the end of the highway. Also, rather than putting hard concrete medians at the roundabout, they can use impact attenuator devices to cushion impacts, such as sand barrels or water barrels.”
He noted that the M2 Ring Road is also a dangerous roadway, with many accidents occurring there over the years.
“A lot of people forget these are old tasker roads used by Caroni, which is now the main thoroughfare for volumes of traffic. We have recommended more shoulder areas. They have started to mark the road, grade it for increased grip and we have also recommended widening the road,” Batson added.
He said there have been a surprising number of accidents on the Rivulet Road this year as well.
Concerning the Macoya Intersection, Batson said increased signage was needed. He explained that the colour of the buildings in the background could mask the visibility of the traffic lights for oncoming motorists.
Meanwhile, civil engineer Dr Don Samuel, who now works at the University of the West Indies, agreed that the installation of rumble strips, flexible barriers between highway medians and re-engineering of road structures can improve road safety.
Dr Samuel, who has over 20 years of experience in project management, facilities management and construction management, said: “As civil engineers, we are responsible for the safe design of highways and roads in terms of durability, geometrics and drainage.
“As you are aware, in some cases, road accidents may be caused by driving under the influence, unsafe driving behaviour or fatigue. However, if the driver’s speed exceeds the design speed of the road, then the probability of an accident increases, especially at a curved portion of the road where the driver could lose more control of the vehicle.”
Saying he witnessed a fatal accident in January at Debe, Samuel added: “I observed that the driver crossed the median, flipped and sadly passed away. There were no barriers in that area to reduce the risk.”
Samuel also noted that all road markings and signage should be maintained.
“We need to convert horizontal curves on roads to super elevations, also known as banked roads, to permit motorists to manoeuvre vehicles at a safe speed in these areas,” he explained.
Saying the road structure should also be maintained, Samuel said, “Potholes have been a frequent complaint by the motoring public and while they may not necessarily contribute to an accident, they could increase the probability of an accident if you are attempting to avoid a pothole and enter into the oncoming lane in a single carriageway.”
He also recommended the installation and maintenance of flexible barriers at all known points of frequent accidents to mitigate against median crossings.
“We need to install and maintain rumble strips at all known points of frequent accidents to alert inattentive drivers of potential hazards and we must also ensure that the public gets value for money in the execution of road contracts, using transparent procurement and enforceable specifications,” he said.
Samuel said while he was not knocking the ministry, contractors or engineers, more can be done from a contracting standpoint to ensure there are quality roads.
“All roads require continuous maintenance of the road structure. I have observed that some secondary roads have road structures which have failed. Patching will not solve the problem, the road structure needs to be re-engineered since a failed road structure could result in a motorist losing control of the vehicle, say when the slope of the road is more than 2.5 per cent due to a failed road structure,” he said.
Contacted yesterday, Minister Rohan Sinanan said the Traffic Management Division is looking at ways to improve safety.
He said, “In analysing all these accidents with the TTPS, it is recognised that human error has a great part to play in these accidents. While we sympathise with those who have lost family members, we again appeal to the public to be more responsible while using the roads.”
