Solutions for safer road use are many and varied
I WRITE with reference to Mr Rod Hamon, his most recent letter published on 31 May [Large vehicles on our roads a safety concern] and as always it was punchy, interesting and politically thought-provoking too.
I sit on the committee of Living Streets Guernsey, the environmental charity, and have been a past president. We of course support an alliance for safer road use and acknowledge many vehicles, not just large vehicles, are a safety concern. I fully acknowledge residents and islanders like Rod Hamon have been telling government for many years our roads are overcrowded with an horrendous increase in traffic and States members generally haven’t been listening. I am tempted to say ‘enough is enough’.
It is quite true while the population of Guernsey has not increased much in recent years, relatively speaking the sizes of vehicles have gone from Ford Populars and Italian Job minis to modern minis and popular off-roaders. It has made car parking more of a squeeze, too, and lanes and roads haven’t got any wider, generally speaking. Obviously pedestrians in tight urban roads like Mont Arrive, the Grand Bouet and Collings Road can be put at risk and vulnerable road users especially are put at a disadvantage.
Mr Hamon is also spot on in considering widths of leisure vehicles, but I remember being part of a States and board led by Deputy Burford who wanted to tax wider vehicles, which went down like a lead balloon.
I’m not sure all the buses are too wide. In every context a wider use of minibuses would be preferable in Town and on less busy routes, although I would like a few double deckers on coastal routes, which would require special width changes, and permission for disability-friendly vehicles.
The solutions are many and varied – public transport investment, trials of one-way systems, traffic calming, moderate slowing and enhanced pavements, with more thought given to new communities, seafront enhancement, apps and greener transport networks and choices.
Believe me, having had a few near misses with angry road users as a pedestrian recently, I won’t fade into the mist and walk around the living streets with my eyes closed. It is just too risky and dangerous.
JOHN GOLLOP
28, Rosaire Court Apartments
Rosaire Avenue
St Peter Port
GY1 1XW