Govt moves to tackle traffic chaos amid public transport indiscipline

​Transport officials and police have agreed to review traffic routes around Constitution River to relieve congestion, even as authorities slam the high level of lawlessness shown by both public service vehicle (PSV) operators and passengers.

​The decision follows mounting complaints from the Alliance Owners of Public Transport about traffic jams near the River Terminal, particularly around Nursery Drive and Charles Duncan O’Neal bridge. The government confirmed it is preparing to reopen traffic access to Nursery Drive, across from Queen’s Park, to help vehicles enter the terminal more smoothly.

​Addressing the situation, the Minister of Transport Kirk Humphrey acknowledged that while the government is willing to consider structural changes to the road network, physical alterations alone will not solve the deeper problems on the island’s roads.

​”If indiscipline is going to be your nature, no matter what system I try to put in place in terms of where traffic is allowed to go, indiscipline is going to be indiscipline,” the minister said. “You see it on the main roads. You see ZRs stopping where they shouldn’t stop, and conversations between two drivers on the road taking place for minutes at a time.”

​The minister stressed that while many operators remain law-abiding, the vast majority of the traffic bottlenecks in the Constitution River area are actively created by PSV operators who refuse to use proper facilities.

​”We created the terminal for the vehicles to go inside and park. They’re supposed to pick up and drop off there, but they don’t want to do it,” Humphrey noted. “My view is if they want to have a conversation about us improving that road because it makes sense, that is fair. But you cannot engage in lawless behaviour and say it is anybody else’s fault but your own.”

​The minister warned that the State would increasingly rely on strict law enforcement alongside ongoing consultation to bring order back to the highways. He said persistent offenders will face swift repercussions.

​Confirming the proposed route adjustments, MTW’s Chief Technical Officer Jason Bowen explained that the current entrance setup is also causing problems for regular drivers.  

​”We have had discussions with the Traffic Branch of the police and the Transport Authority, and we are going to recommend that traffic be returned to the Nursery Drive access. Too much congestion is occurring on the other end, and we cannot allow that to continue,” he said.

Authorities are also planning strict restrictions around Nelson Street and Green Hill. These may include time limits on passenger drop-offs and the implementation of automated surveillance technology to monitor vehicles lingering in unauthorised spots.

​Director of the Transport Authority Ruth Holder, reinforced that passengers also share responsibility for the current chaos, often encouraging illegal stops or resisting enforcement efforts.

​”A lot of what we are seeing out there comes from two elements: indiscipline by passengers and indiscipline by PSV operators,” Holder stated. “When we offload vehicles at the entrance because of safety infractions, we get cursed by passengers because they have to walk further. It doesn’t make it any easier for us.”

​Holder revealed that the Transport Authority has ramped up enforcement since late last year, actively reviewing video evidence submitted by the public and social media users to penalise reckless drivers. Authorities suspended 82 operator permits between December of last year and the end of July.

(RR)