Indications that St. Maarten’s only traffic lights at Prins Bernhard Bridge are finally being repaired probably will be applauded by most road users. A number of car crashes and near-accidents have occurred at that junction during the past months.
Why it took so long is one of the questions still asked. However, the traffic lights have become rather old and outdated, which makes ordering the correct parts abroad a challenge.
Replacing the current system with a more modern one would therefore be desirable, but there is no budget to purchase and install the relatively expensive equipment. What’s more, the plan is ultimately to create a roundabout there also in connection with the Ring Road project.
The latter was also stalled due to lack of funds, so for now having the lights back in operation when repaired is very welcome to create a less hazardous situation there. Once they are working again motorists would nevertheless do well to proceed with caution, certainly in the beginning, as people will probably need to get used to it all over.
Of course, having traffic lights alone is no guarantee of safer traffic. During a police control in Curaçao at two locations for about two hours each a total of 46 fines for running a red light were issued.
They only make sense if drivers respect them.
