Flirting with danger - Pedestrians refuse to use overhead bridge on Marcus Garvey Drive

Although conscious of its dangers, pedestrians are gambling with their lives by dashing across sections of Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston instead of using an overhead bridge that was built for their safety.

THE STAR recently observed the daredevil nature with which some pedestrians traversed the busy four-lane thoroughfare that has waist-high concrete medians. Some pedestrians -- particularly employees of businesses in the area -- outlined several reasons for not using the bridge, including the distance between it and their bus stop.

It takes about five minutes, by foot, for a person to walk from the closest bus stop to the overhead bridge, which is located close to the Tinson Pen Aerodrome.

One pedestrian, Chris, said that the bridge is inconveniently located, and that he will continue to take his chances crossing the road in the manner he now does.

"Mi know it dangerous and all that but, like all now when mi late for work, mi no have the time fi walk guh so far and use the overpass. Mi rather chance it right yah so because, all when you reach the bridge, is another long walk again up and down the stairs," said Chris, referring to the bridge with more than 100 steps.

"Maybe dem need fi relocate the bridge or build a next one, because people a guh always run the risk fi cross the street. Then yuh have those who come off at the other bus stops. Weh dem fi do? Walk all the way dung yah so fi use the bridge?" he said.

ROAD-CROSSING PRACTICE

In addition to the overhead bridge, pedestrian crossings, supported by traffic lights are installed along sections of the highway. However, there is none close to the problematic spots. Despite a large number of persons engaging in the dangerous road-crossing practice, one pedestrian, Alton Parkes, told THE STAR that he is not prepared to take the risks that others do daily.

"Sometimes mi get tired yes, but mi rather be tired than dead enuh. A nuff things mi witness, nuff accidents weh never need to happen. But, because people lazy and stupid, dem put themselves in harm's way. Mi nah go be the one to get lick dung and dead because me lazy," he said.

Contacted for comment on the issue, coordinator of the National Road Safety Council, Paula Fletcher, said that a culture change is needed in the way persons use the roads. She noted the use of overhead bridges is not popular, except for the one near Wolmer's High School for Girls.

She said that in the case of the bridge on Marcus Garvey Drive, there are a lot of complaints about the distance that people have to walk and that it is inconvenient.

"But there was a lot of discussion as to where to put the overpass," Fletcher said.

"Safety in Jamaica is not normally one of convenience. People talk about not being comfortable to wear a seat belt or a helmet as a motorcyclist. I think the culture needs to change to appreciate that it is now a widened high traffic roadway, and even though they may have to walk a little way from the bus stop, it is for their own good and safety," the road safety champion said.

Data from the Road Safety Unit indicates that as of Tuesday, 137 persons, 23 per cent of them pedestrians, have been killed on the roads since the start of the year.