When I moved to Anguilla, I was taken aback with the smallness of the island, some 16 miles in length and 3 miles at its widest points. My next surprise was the many vehicles on the roads with some families perhaps owning two or three cars. My third shock was the reckless speed that motorists were travelling.

For a tiny island, with very close villages, I often ask myself just where they are going so dangerously fast. I have witnessed at least once a driver shooting past the road-side house to which he was travelling. I wondered whether he had lost concentration or whether in fact the great speed at which he was travelling caused him to overrun his destination. He suddenly held brakes, turned around and headed back to the house. It was no laughing matter for me, but he found it necessary to laugh.

Then there are those large trucks, some looking not very road worthy. Filled with uncovered loads, they roar up and down the roads overtaking other vehicles and at times running them off the road.

I get very scared at times and wonder which is safer: to drive my car or to ride a bicycle with what should be my own very small space at the far side of the road if I am riding my bike.

Is there anything more that the Traffic Department of the Royal Anguilla Police Force can do to stop this misuse of our roads? Sorry, I have no ideas of my own.

Ron Nyers

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