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KUAM.COM Sounding Board

Here are the results of last week's Sounding Board Question:

What factor(s) do you think are cause for the high number of traffic-related fatalities this year?

Want to rant about your own topics? Get your own customized column on KUAM.COM and be heard!

Previous topic comments

Our last topic...

Speed and or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Poor roads and the lack of enforcement of traffic laws!

Guam needs to institute the death penalty.

Leadership ... first and foremost. Leadership determines, implements, and follows through. This is directly tied to my earlier comment on innovativeness. Leadership reaches out and transforms thoughts and ideas into all things positive. It takes a team ... a village ... an island. However, leadership must direct.

Guzmonster

Public safety is non-negotiable. The AG should be held responsible for prosecuting those responsible for the maximum security escape and should NOT drop the ball. Otherwise, the AG needs to be fired and replaced.

People are in a rush and careless on the roads. I am a former Guam resident and now reside in a foreign country where the speed limits are twice or sometimes triple Guam 's speed limits. But this country has more strict traffic policies and also high cost of driving school which is mandatory for obtaining a driver's license. I only have a driver's certificate not a license in this country. Guam should impose more strict traffic laws, strict policy on obtaining a driver's license.

The law that says, "YOU HAVE TO GO TO DRIVING SCHOOL". Let's face it, most of these so-called driving schools are owned and run by Orientals and since when are they certified and WHO CERTIFIED THEM to teach driving on Guam?! FORTY HOURS behind the wheel do not make expert drivers!!----- ESPECIALLY, MENTALLY, where common courtesy and common sense are essential on the highways.

Juanita T . M.

Alcohol, speeding, drugs, lack or lights for safety, road hazardous due to condition of road and improper maintenance to keep it safe. All these factors are known contributing causes of any accidents. We need the roads and proper lighting to be taken care of first and foremost. Secondly, GPD should conduct more dui check and road patrol to apprehend drivers who speeds or drive in a unsafe manner. Traffic Accidents is a fact in Guam and everywhere in the United States . But if we try to prevent it, the fatalities should decrease and lives would be save. I suggest every other night and day, there will be speed and dui checks. Also, if any citizens witnesses reckless driving including speeding. They should contact GPD and make a report. All citizens should take interest in reporting such ill behavior drivers to protect yourself and everyone else. However, this would need to be done by both GPD and the citizens of Guam . Also, DMV should have a program like the United States , where for every citation conducted by the driver a point is taken out. So if there is 12 demirits in one year, DMV would suspende their license and a requirement of safe driving class need to be taken. This type of programs work well and teaches those who abuse their priviliges of driving on the roads. The main point of this program, is to save lives and remove those drivers from the road who chooses to cause harm. In all all cooperation is needed from GPD and citizens of Guam . Laws need to be change and enforce for those who commit such crime when driving.

Bad road conditions and very few patrol cars monitoring the streets. You don't see them until there's an accident then there all racing to the scene, sometimes involving themselves in a auto accident.

Fed-Up Chamorro

Oh,where do we begin! First of all,some drivers have NO respect at all for the Law,and other drivers.Guam should just get rid of STOP signs, people just ignore them.Just plain inconsidered.Secondly,not enough policemen out there patrolling the area.And even if they are out there they are totally BLIND to these traffic violators.Pedestrians, they expect cars to stop for them, inconsidered drivers stop for NO ONE.Another thing, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOL AIDES should teach these kids to walk on the side of the road, not take up the whole lane. one of these days, some kid is going to get knocked off the street by a car.Lets not put too much blame on pot holes,unless they are craters, slow down.Dead mans curve in Anigua/Asan? come on folks there are worst curves on this island. they put up a 25miles speed limit, just how many follow it. It's a JOKE...

This question or survey would have more impact if KUAM were to ask the family, friends and relatives of people who've died or been injured in traffic accidents. Why? though we know for a fact that Guam 's roads are unsafe, we tolerate the situation. If you lost a brother, mother, father, son, daugther or other love ones, then we would be more vocal and passionate about this issue. Until an event such as death or injury due to auto accidents affects us personally, we tend to TOLERATE and forget about it. We tolerate people who run through red lights.....we tolerate the lack of enforcment and traffic education programs....No fault of GPD but someone is responsible... Pot holes seems to be the latest political wave....the outcry several senators was interesting....thousands of dollars were committed to repair potholes....I didn't see the same level of concern or support for the victims who've died from crashing into concrete telephone poles. we tolerate bad or no engineering practice's....we tolerate the lack of enforcement for traffic laws...we tolerate politicians who protect govguam...........until we change our own attitudes..stop tolerating.. (everyone should hate this word)...it'll never change. hey! at least we got one pothole fixed this year...

The lack of police enforcement is the cause for high traffic fatalities.

Poor lighting and those ridiculous cement posts

incompetent, unattentive,reckless,no common sense,idiotic drivers who think we live on a island with a autobahn. wake up people, follow the speed limit, be courteous to others and realize that it don't matter how fast your car will go... there will be a stoplight or sign every 50 feet so get over it. Another factor is the non-U.S. citizens who make our island their home and are allowed to drive and possess a drivers license without comprehending or understanding the rules of the road. They place their lexus, bmw, infinity, mercedes in "drive" and take off without a clue in the world. ai adai.... O.O.G.

Probably the poorest driving habits in the US .

1. The ignorance and reckless disregard for the safety of others on Guam . 2. The almost nonexistent police presence on the Island . 3. The atrocious road conditions that should subject the government to sanctions or civil liability. 4. The general rude, ignorant nature of many who inhabit the Island and drive on the roadways.

gonefromguam

Mostly ignorance and laziness.

It baffles me that on such a small Island , so many crimes go unsolved. Murders, hit and runs, rape, etc. The local police should be certified and trained in the U.S. , not at whatever nonaccredited "police camp" they currently attend.

Guam Hotel and Resturaunt Association is responsible for the high number of alcohol related deaths and accidents on Guam . The opposition of GHRA against the 21 and over drinking age has deprive many young people of Guam a possiblity of living a long and prosperous life......

(1) Poor driving skills. (2) Inadequate laws. Should have a points system which takes away the license after a few minor violations w/in a time frame or when convicted of a major traffic offense. (3) Inadequate enforecement of the existing laws.

Without doubt, lax law enforcement by GPD contributes greatly. DUI, speeding, reckless driving, running red lights, and racing are done with impunity because island drivers know GPD is impotent.

Poor ROAD conditions!

Lack of leadership. Lack of effort. Lack of genuine care and interest for the health and wellbeing of our beautiful island. To motivate our elected leaders or lack thereof, I solicit our business leaders to post a 6 foot by 50 foot white tarp in a vicinity where all can see�especially our elected officials (Governor, Senators, AG, etc.,�). Once that is posted a representative or group of representatives from each of our villages paint a letter on the tarp that ultimately spells out the following or some semblance of the message � �P-L-E-A-S-E D-O S-O-M-E-T-H-I-N-G A-B-O-U-T O-U-R I-S-L-A-N-D�. Now mind you if the shoe fits wear it.

1. Irresponsible driving practices: a. Drinking while driving b. Driving Under the Influence c. Agressive driving d. Road Rage 2. Poorly constructed and maintained roadways: a. unlit sections of roadways b. potholes c. U-turn lanes of opposing traffic directly opposite each other where oncoming traffic may not be visible forcing drivers to take chances

Jerome S. Fejerang
jeromef@ite.net

Speed and driving under the influence of drugs and or alcohol. If all drivers were careful and not impaired, then a traffic fatality on Guam would be a rare event.

Alchol , speed , drugs , and poor driving skills.

I feel speed,alcohol,and drivers that are not paying attention to their surroundings.

Probably that whole drinking and driving thing.

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