INSERT SHEET SIDE B. THE CAYMANIAN WEEKLY. APRIL 6th, 1972 Dear Mr. Editor:
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ONE HUNDRED PERCENT IS THEIR LIMIT. Certainly this must have been approved by our Government. The reason given by the insurance companies for the drastic increase in their rates is because of the great number of claims they have had to pay as a result of the upsurge in the accident rate. Now, let us get to the root of this matter: What is the real cause of the tremendous increase in motor accidents?
Here are the causes as we all know too well: 1. Drivers under the influence of alcohol. Few people there are who do not drink alcoholic liquors nowadays because there is a bar licensed at almost every corner under some other disguised name; hotels clubs, restaurants and what have you. Who licensed them? 2. Issuing driver's licences to teenagers, young and "giddy-headed" just out to nothing but break the speed limit. You can always tell the driver by the way they start off spinning tyres. 3. Failure of the Traffic Department to really GO INTO ACTION TENACIOUSLY TO CLEAR THE STREETS OF motor demons who stalk our streets day and night. Who can't see when a person is driving 25 miles an hour which is the speed limit from when they are driving 40, 50 and 80 miles an hour as I see them doing regularly. If I was a speed cop I could get one every ten minutes. That's just how they drive incessantly. It also shows the complete impotence of the traffic department. When demons on wheels (call them what you may) prey on our cars, lives, income, I say with all frankness: "Get them at all costs" go into operation THIS HOUR. Go on walker's Road and you will find 90 percent of all cars breaking the speed limit. Let them learn the hard way to keep the speed limit of 25-30 miles per hour. Don't wait till they kill another person or wreck another car. If the law of the land 25 miles per hour speed limit is not enforced momentarily WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR, I say REMOVE IT FROM OUR STATUTE BOOKS.
Shall we declare a state of anarchy? A Law is of no effect UNLESS it is ENFORCED. Not occasionally but MOMENTARILY as the need arises. I am going to ask a question here (I am not making a statement): Does Government prefer to make money off the traffic offenders they put in court and then put them back on the road to continue their old course of endangering my life and others, or rather take away their licenses for long periods and impose drastic fines? Is it fair and is it not a sin in the sight of God to compel me and other careful accident-free drivers to pay TWICE AS MUCH this year for our insurance in order that the insurance companies can have this money to pay for all the claims they expect from the rebels of the roadways?
It seems to me that if our Legislative Assembly does not move immediately to remedy this terrible situation, this island will sink deeper into a new "dark age" made more sinister by the free hand of alcohol under the continual licensing of more and more bar rooms. Because of the drastic double increase of insurance rates, many drivers, both competent and incompetent, will be downgrading their insurance to mere ACT or personal liability policies. This, in turn, will make matters worse in the event of accidents, for this policy does not provide cover for vehicles or other property.
It seems to me that if there were no insurance compulsion and the speed maniacs are removed from our roads, we would save more lives and more money. It is absolutely inhumane to let the innocent suffer for the guilty. The Bible says: "HE THAT OPPRESSETH THE POOR TO INCREASE HIS RICHES...SHALL SURELY COME TO WANT." Proverbs 22:16. God's words never fail. Let all the churches pray for God's guidance of the Legislative Assembly and of all those who govern our island. Let them remember He is the Supreme Ruler of the universe and that all His ways are JUST. With a little change in the words of Longfellow:"Sail on O Shiplof State!
Let unity make you strong and great. Caymanians with all their fears, With all their hopes of future years, Are hanging breathless on thy fate." Sincerely Silby H. Coe.
