The deadly Gouves crossroads

It is unthinkable that there are no safe pedestrian crossings in the Gouves Township!

These days, we must all recognize our inappropriate-to-deadly driving habits and manners. Every time a death occurs due to a traffic accident, we all put forth our thespian talents, mutter tsk, tsk, tsk, and agree that things have to change.

Around this same time, the traffic police are more visible on our streets, even though there are way too many motorists aiding and abetting criminal drivers by flashing their lights as an early warning system.

We talk about our non-existent driving education, but later we extend the palm of our hand out the car window with splayed fingers, or raise our middle finger while closing the others.

Human life on the Greek roads is worthless!

Unfortunately, our means of transportation have changed, and the newer, faster cars now enable us to express all the negative emotions we store within ourselves.

For example, all the expensive cars and bikes undermine the driving code with their grand presence while they underline their grandeur by intimating: Step aside you… I’m passing now!

Of course, this attitude does not go unanswered by the rest of us, and the counterattack begins with lawlessness encouraged by horsepower, blinding headlights, excessive speed etc.

Unfortunately, I will agree with the popular psychology that says: A man’s car and his driving habits target his perception of the length of his penis...

We add to that the grandeur of many drivers who feel they can (and do) violate the law as long as a friend or relative can take care of the ensuing fine. That sort of grandeur adds up to the pride and arrogance of Greek insignificance, however it is reality.

Hey dude, I paid and had the license delivered to my home!

Or...

Yeah, well, my cousin’s a cop and I didn’t have to pay my fine.  

I believe that those in politics, clergy, law enforcement, military and generally all the ruling social powers have never paid a traffic fine.

All we can do is to armor our immediate world as much as possible, to protect our children, our visitors and, of course, ourselves.

With all this in mind, we must move immediately to provide adequate pedestrian crossings in our township before another deadly accident occurs.

Have we already forgotten seven-year old Kosta who died on the crossroad towards Kreta Sun?

Or, the young Serbian photographer who was killed on the Tsalos crossroad?

Or, the polite Mr. Rasithaki who was killed on the crossroad-guillotine of Kato Gouves?

Who will promise the parents that when their children leave their schools on the old American base they will be safe, when we all know that too many small incidents have happened already?

Is there anyone who can show us how to cross at the Kato Gouves junction when all those vehicles from all eight corners try to go first at the same time?

For the sake of us all, especially our children and our elders, we can’t afford to wait any longer, and every resident interviewed demanded traffic lights, or underground or elevated pedestrian crosswalks, now!

Nikos Stavroulakis, an educator and councilman, in a detailed interview told us that, indeed, the five crossroads, Amirantes (old Kreta Sun), the plant and flower shop, the main Gouves crossroad, Kyvelia and the main school entrance by the town hall constitute a permanent source of danger for us and our children.

Councilman Stavroulakis

“Certain agencies and our township are responsible for the existing condition,” he said. “We could support it in the technical program but we need professional and expert studies in the solutions of similar problems. For information’s sake I will say that the old road to Iraklio and back will be more congested when the water works begin with water directed from Potamies to Iraklion as the roads will be closed for a certain amount of time. Finally, I would like to emphasize the absence of traffic lights at all these crossroads, something which I deem it to be very necessary.”

Andreas Anagnostou, a shop owner by the main entrance at the old American base, remarked: “by both bus stops where most of the students board the busses there is a visibility problem especially by cars going up hill past the gas station. It’s just a matter of time before an accident occurs. Perhaps traffic lights could be a solution; however I believe that a school traffic warden is necessary”.

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