Now don’t get confused by the contention that we’re enjoying ‘the good life’ in Cayman; truth is there are always ways to make it better. High on the list in that regard would be driving in Grand Cayman. For example:
We really need to find a way to deal with these ‘mergers’ who seem to think, as the Rundown song last year put it, ‘that God sent them here to overtake.’ We have to find a way to get across to these people that the bent arrow painted on the road means that you can merge into that lane only when the traffic flow permits or when other drivers let you in; this notion that ‘when one car passes, it’s my turn’ is not, as the Caymanians say, ‘how it go,’ so that when I refuse to be cowed by the drivers forcing their way in, I’m not the transgressor. After all, Jack, I’m in just as much a hurry as you are.
Another irritation is drivers going east in the afternoon who slide into the turn-left-into-Prospect lane, shoot ahead of the eastbound traffic, and then force their way back into the right-hand lane. What propels these people to zip 20 cars ahead of me, and put on their indicator as if they’re reclaiming some pre-ordained place in line? What fire are these folks going to? Unless they’re sporting the flashing lights of the ambulance or police cruiser, let them get behind us in the long line home.
Drivers also need to be educated about right-hand turns at a traffic light. Once the light goes green, instead of sitting there at the junction, you’re supposed to move forward into the intersection and wait there until the way is clear for you to turn right. By that method, as the light turns orange, at least one car, but usually more, can make the right turn before traffic starts to move the other way. The way it is now, you’re lodged behind a driver who refuses to go forward; the light changes and both of you remain stuck there like two tourists trying to get across Harbour Drive.
And roundabouts…Lord have mercy…a can of worms, particularly for the visitor, but needlessly so. A lot of the melee would be cleared up quickly if our Roads Authority would put up the signs seen at roundabouts in other countries: ‘Give way to traffic on your right.’ That one simple instruction would be a Godsend to drivers who are plainly confused, looking right and left, stopping and starting, and hoping for the best. It would make clear that, for instance, at the Hurley’s roundabout, where two George Town-bound traffic lanes merge into one, the traffic on the right has the right of way; yes, Leroy, the traffic on the right. That simple rule would eliminate all the hand waving, blue language and high blood pressures that generate good business for Doctor Lookloy and his brethren.
We don’t expect to solve all the traffic problems in one go, but for those of us who spend a good part of every day behind the wheel, those four simple changes would make the good life here even better.
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