Traffic in SXM: before we blame the cares let's check the drivers

Dear Editor,

You wake up in the morning.

You pray.

You read your affirmations.

You get dressed for work.

Mariah Carey, T-Mo, or Ruff & Ready Christmas songs set the mood.

You hit the road–

and immediately, you hit traffic.

Sound familiar?

For months now, traffic has dominated conversations across SXM radio, Facebook groups, and street corners. We hear it daily: “Too many cars.” “Limit vehicle imports.” “We need more roads.” While these discussions are valid–and government certainly has a role to play–there is a deeper issue we are refusing to confront.

𝐔𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Over the past month, I’ve paid close attention while driving our already busy two-lane roads. Like many of you, I’ve sat in traffic, inched forward, rounded the corner… and wondered:

Where was the traffic even coming from?

No accident. No construction. No obstruction. Just… congestion.

And that’s when it became clear:

𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝.

Before we rush to import fewer vehicles or pour concrete for new roads, we must first address how irresponsibly, inattentively, and inconsiderately we use the roads we already have.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜?

In my view, traffic in SXM is created daily by behaviors that have nothing to do with infrastructure and everything to do with discipline:

• Drivers who do not know how to properly use a roundabout

• Vehicles crawling from town to Sucker Garden at 10 mph

• Drivers eating, drinking, or distracted behind the wheel

• Adults driving with babies or toddlers in their laps or standing in vehicles

• Hands hanging out the window like it’s a parade route

• No indicators–guessing becomes the norm

• Pedestrians darting across roads instead of waiting safely

• Drivers blocking entrances and exits to businesses

• Vehicles entering or exiting the road at a snail’s pace

• Drivers slowing traffic simply because their destination is “somewhere along this road”

• Vehicles stopping in the middle of the road instead of pulling aside

• Drivers slowing down because someone honked at them

• Drivers moving slowly with no one in front of them

• Bus drivers, taxi drivers, and private drivers stopping in traffic to drop off or pick up passengers

• Passengers flagging down vehicles in the middle of the road instead of allowing them to pull off

• Drivers unsure of where they’re going–deciding in real time, blocking everyone else

• Drivers creating unnecessary gaps between vehicles

• Heads buried in phones while traffic piles up

• Stopping to chat with officers about non-urgent matters

• Stopping to hail coworkers, friends, or family

• Heavy-duty vehicles on the road during restricted hours

None of these require new roads to fix.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

Every unnecessary stop.

Every delayed turn.

Every distracted driver.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲.

In a country that depends heavily on tourism, service, punctuality, and efficiency, these behaviors cost us more than patience. They cost us revenue. They cost us reputation. They cost us opportunity.

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲–𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡.

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Yes, government must:

• Improve enforcement

• Strengthen driver education

• Enforce traffic laws consistently

• Plan for future growth

But 𝐰𝐞, the drivers, must:

• Focus while driving

• Respect each other’s time

• Obey the rules of the road

• Stop treating public roads like personal driveways

Traffic is not just an infrastructure problem.

It is a 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦.

Until we change how we drive–how we think, how we move, how we respect one another–no number of new roads or import restrictions will save us.

Before we ask for more space,

let’s learn to use the space we already have–properly.

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By Luis Hurtault

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