Police Constable 1040 Rick Hunte highlighted a number of concerns the RSVGPF Traffic Department has with respect to use of pedestrian crossings.
Fri, Apr 19, 2024
The irresponsible attitude of drivers and pedestrian alike to use of crossings on the roads in this country, has not escaped the attention of the Traffic Department of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF).
Speaking on a recent episode of the Traffic Talk programme, aird on WE FM, Police Constable 1040 Rick Hunte highlighted the issue and disclosed that the Traffic Department has in fact, noted a heightening of the attitude as referenced.
“According to the pedestrian crossing regulation, any driver who stops on a pedestrian crossing or fails to stop at a pedestrian crossing is guilty of an offense,” Constable Hunte reminded listeners.
He also noted that pedestrians linger on the crossing, and cited that pedestrians have taken to using their phones while using the crossings.
The constable went further to say that it has been observed that pedestrians, on reaching halfway on a crossing, turn around and go in the opposite direction.
Worse, pedestrians are known to walk slowly on the crossings while indulging in conversation with others, putting spend to the protocol that one should walk briskly when using a stipulated crossing, and to always complete the cross from one side to the other.
Also highlighted by Constable Hunte was the increasing incidents of disregard for the authority of a Police Office on duty at a crossing.
“We have observed that there are pedestrians who don’t respect the police officer while that officer is regulating the traffic. They would walk across the pedestrian crossing while the officer is regulating the traffic,” he said.
He called upon citizens to desist from such practice and to respect the officer who is on duty at a pedestrian crossing.
“Wait on that officer’s permission before crossing,” he advised.
An officer is placed at a crossing not only to ensure thefree movement of traffic but to also ensure the safe crossing by pedestrians, Constable Hunte told his listening audience.