Our traffic light loss (the ONLY traffic light in the Out Islands!)
By Theresa Pinder - The Abaconian - 1 August 2002

Ever since the loss of the traffic light in Marsh Harbour in 2001, driving through the four-way intersection demands a heightened sense of watchfulness and patience. The former smooth flow of traffic has become erratic, as drivers are finding themselves at a loss as to who has the right of way. This uncertainty can, and has on more than one occasion led to awkward situations and near-collisions. Something must be done; the intersection is a very busy area. It is a part of the main road, and is therefore a conduit for the main flow of traffic.

On one recent morning more than 650 vehicles passed through the intersection in one hour, two of which narrowly missed colliding. Forty-three percent of them did not stop. In one afternoon more than 500 vehicles drove through the intersection in one hour, and forty-six percent of them did not stop. Do you know what the fine for not stopping is? It can escalate up to several hundred dollars. That means that, in a single hour on a single morning, best case scenario (for the offending driver), more than $28,000 could be made in fines. What could be gathered during the rest of the work day?

As it can be seen, the intersection is a heavily trafficked area; the possibility of a serious accident occurring is ever present, as not only do some of the drivers fail to stop before proceeding, but never bother to slow down, particularly those traveling along Queen Elizabeth Drive. Unless they have to make a turn, they whiz through the intersection or muscle their way through, taking precedence over others who are waiting their turn.

Granted, there is no traffic light to regulate the passage of vehicles, and sometimes there is no need to come to a complete stop, but there are four stop signs, and every driver should acknowledge them, regardless of the direction in which he or she is coming from. Drivers should also assess the traffic situation carefully before proceeding. These courses of action, tempered with a little courtesy, could significantly decrease the chances of a traffic accident. At the very least, until the traffic light is replaced, this could make navigating the traffic light intersection a little more effortless. Life is complicated enough without adding one more irritation.