personal fight to revive Flatts Village -- and stamp out road rage.

W.A. (Toppy) Cowen used his position at the VIP to launch a crusade to solve traffic problems in Flatts.

And even though he has stepped down, he is continuing to fight. Mr. Cowen and a group of volunteers conducted a traffic survey.

Now he plans to present the information to the Ministry of Works and Engineering and convince them of the need for change.

Mr. Cowen and the other observers recorded the traffic flow through the village at five spots from 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

And although the results are not yet compiled, Mr. Cowen said he discovered some "preliminary startling facts''.

He said 385 vehicles did not stop at the stop sign on Lazy Corner opposite Palmetto Bay Hotel.

"It would appear these drivers would prefer this to be changed to `Give Way' as opposed to stopping,'' he said.

And Mr. Cowen said the observation group saw four incidents of "road rage'' on the corner of Harrington Sound Road and Flatts Hill, where angry drivers were "blaming each other of negligence''. Mr. Cowen said he and a group of supporters would start working closely with Works and Engineering in a bid to resolve problems.

GOVERNMENT GVT