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by pltm
(PLTM) - Drivers who speed and disobey road rules are to be held responsible for any difficulty they find themselves in, said Mr. Anthony McMaster, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works. In light of a vehicular collision which occurred on Saturday evening, October 15 at the James Walter Francis Highway, McMaster noted that these incidences are due to drivers’ negligence, not the flashing of the lights. Persons are blaming the flashing of the lights as one of the reasons of the accident. “As far as I am aware, when the traffic lights are flashing, it means slow down and proceed with caution. If persons are not obeying the traffic rules, things wouldn’t be better. No accident is due to the traffic lights, whether they are flashing or not flashing.” McMaster stated that drivers in the Territory need to encourage each other to obey the traffic rules and the speed limits of the land. “Until we have respect for the rules and the laws that are in place, we are going to always encounter difficulty.” The flashing of the traffic lights from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am every day, since late August 2016, was a move made by the Ministry of Communication and Works in response to concerns from drivers. The flashing lights were to run for a one month trial period. As earlier reported, persons were concerned for their safety, having to stop and stay at the traffic lights for long periods of time late in the night. “Since we’ve done that, we have gotten a lot of credit from the public. They felt more safe and we have also been able to improve the lighting in the areas as well," said McMaster. He disclosed that the flashing of the lights will continue until the Ministry reviews the information received from the trial period and added that a decision will then be made in the next 3-4 weeks on whether or not the lights will continue flashing.
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