In support of Commander Kelley [1]
Monday, November 24, 2008 - 05:15. Updated on Monday, April 28, 2014 - 11:56.
Editor,
My career gave me opportunities to drive in more countries and in all sorts of roads and weather conditions. The drivers of the Middle East own the right to speeding. Doing 120 mph from Aljubar in Saudi to Kafji in Saudi Arabia is common. You can see for miles in all directions on these desert highways. Unfortunately, every accident I saw was a total loss. Occupants of vehicles in accidents are almost always buried with the vehicles.
The Koreans are the crazy drivers. In the intersection of a single lane road can easily develop into a 5 to 6 lane as more vehicles arrive at the intersection. Lots of fender benders there.
In Central America, drivers made up roads where there is none. You have to watch out for other vehicles, terrorists, and animals. Do not call the police on an accident, they may be the one involved or they are no where near.
I am sorry Police Commander Kelley, but Tonga has the rudest, most careless, and the most unkind and unappreciative drivers in my view. Some of my fellow drivers in the United States would agree with me that if you drive like "that" somewhere in Los Angeles, someone will shoot you. If the CHP do not get to you first.
Solution? It has to be a combination of an elaborate drivers' education program and forceful and strict law enforcement.
The drivers' education should be blasted on TV and radio on a regular basis. School children should be informed that they have the right to tell a driver, even if it is their parents, that they are breaking the rules. Kids may even call the Police Depart to report anyone they suspect driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This children information source worked for me. It is illegal to shoot Bats (Flying Foxes) and Lupe here in American Samoa. This was taught and emphasized at the Primary School. One of my son, 9 years old called the Police one day after I returned from a hunting trip to the mountains with 5 flying foxes and 3 Lupe. The Police Officer gave me a warning, and on TV that evening my son received a Paid Subsription to National Geographic Magazine and a $100 Gift Certificate from the governor. Well, that was the end of my hunting season for that year.
Commander Kelley, if your Police Radar Squad on the road side is anything like those I had in the military, I encourage you to change strategy and tactics. Roving Patrols have been most successful in my experience. Add the radars to a group of enthusiastic officers who are firm and uncompromising, to ticket road law breakers and you are on the right track.
Deportees. I have suggested in the past to the Tonga government that I am included in this process. I may have the right contact in Washington DC to look into this problem. For now, consider, not accepting deportees to Tonga until they arrive with the documentation you need.
Mafi 'o Amerika Samoa
slkava [at] samoatelco [dot] com