We have written about issues of road safety a few times recently because of the significant changes here on New Providence due to the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP). Highways have been created in many places and in some instances the corresponding road safety changes have not accompanied the expansions. Prince Charles Drive is one such place. It was expanded from two to four lanes, a necessary move to create more space for traffic to flow into and out of Eastern New Providence.
After a few months of the new and improved thoroughfare, it is obvious that quick intervention is needed to save lives and avoid catastrophe. A full median should be built to separate east- and west-bound traffic. Wild drivers currently overtake at times into oncoming traffic on what is increasingly becoming a high-speed highway. If at some point one of these people cannot swing back on to their side of the road, there will be a major head-on collision and pile up.
Additionally, a decision has to be made as to where residents from the numerous communities along Prince Charles Drive will enter and exit the roadway. Some try to ease out and turn the opposite direction toward on-coming traffic, risking their lives. Drivers routinely are moving in excess of 60 milers per hour along the artery. Also, the road is right next to residences. These residents have to turn into their driveways front in and reverse out on to the highway when they want to leave their homes. This is a dangerous situation.
Another challenge is the road-marking process on Prince Charles Drive is incomplete. Therefore, sometimes there are two lanes, then there are three, then there are two again in one direction and drivers do not know which lane to be in as they enter and proceed through intersections. Close calls are frequent. These are just a few of the issues regarding the new Prince Charles Drive.
There are numerous others on other new or expanded roads across New Providence. The government has pledged a road-monitoring unit to oversee our roadways, but urgent action is needed on some of them now, as Bahamians are being injured and killed in part due to poor design and lack of oversight. The chronic lack of marked police patrols on New Providence makes this problem worse. Because marked police presence is never consistent, the deterrent factor is not there to stop Bahamians from indulging in some of their worst habits on the streets, such as proceeding through red lights. With change, there are always moments of discovery. We needed the roads expanded. Now we need to urgently move to make safety modifications regarding obvious deficiencies such as those that exist along Prince Charles Drive.
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