Self-discipline for road safety

By Janani AMARASEKARA

[Part 2]

During the past three decades, since 1977, more than 40,000 people died and around 370,000 were injured out of which 68,440 were serious. Am I talking about the toll caused by the 30-year-old conflict? No, I am not. The above are statistics on road accidents, released at a conference held recently by the National Road Safety Council. The data also revealed that around 150 accidents are reported daily in our country, causing the death of five to six people. This is not a problem faced only by Sri Lankans; Around 1.3 million people around the world die each year due to road accidents. Taking this alarming rise into account, several countries including ours, have declared a Global decade of Action for Road Safety in 2011-2020.

The road accidents are under the spotlight, making it the perfect time to discuss the causes. Negligence plays a keyrole in causing accidents although not the eventual. Ill disciplined pedestrians and drivers also to be blamed. The Gazette Announcement 486/8 issued by the Sri Lankan Government on December 29, 1987, established a set of best practices the pedestrians and drivers need to follow. Unfortunately, only a few are knowledgeable on these practices and even those who are well versed, do not put them into practice. Therefore, we have decided to enlighten you gradually on the rules suggested by the gazette announcement. After all, this is simply common sense that we all should have.

Pedestrians

The discussion about safety of pedestrians, always give priority to children. The parents need to be watchful when their children use the road. Never allow them to play on the road. As a rule of thumb, keep children away from the moving traffic while walking along a busy road. From their tender age, teach them the safety road rules and develop the habit of following those.

Pedestrians should always use footpaths or pavements, if provided. Using the footpath also needs you to follow few rules; avoid walking in a horizontal line of more than two, tops this list. Haven't you ever faced these types of pedestrians in your life? How did you feel? I am sure it did not feel great. Further, pedestrians should note, the roads are for the primary use of the motor traffic. Therefore, they should show priority to the motor traffic except at the pedestrian crossings and pavements. They should also take caution while walking along dimly lit roads, especially at nights.

If there is no footpath, it is advisable to wear light coloured clothing and carry something white, which will help the drivers to spot you out easily at night. When a pedestrian needs to cross the road, look for a pedestrian crossing, overhead bridge or an underground crossing. In the absence of a crossing, stop and check for vehicular traffic until you get a safe moment. As we learnt while were children, "Eyes right! Eyes left! Eyes right once again. Then, if the road is, clear. Quick march! Don't rush! You may cross the road for there's nothing now to fear." You are safe on the road, if you follow this rhyme. Crossing - in an instance when motor traffic and pedestrians coincide, needs the attention of the drivers and the pedestrians.

Following the rules, ease the life of both the parties. Many main roads have security fences along the road. Always choose to use a dedicated gap of the fence, when a pedestrian enters the road, rather than jumping over. After all, who wants to end with a broken bone instead of walking few steps? Fences guard the pedestrians. Therefore, never bypass and walk on the road. An intersection is an example for intricate traffic plans. Motor vehicles come in from every direction. Therefore, pedestrians need to cautious at these places. Most junctions provide narrow footpaths.

When you start to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing, allow the driver to see you, and slow down before stopping. Pedestrians on the crossing, merely obliges the driver to stop. The pedestrians need to be extra cautious if the road is dark or wet. At points where traffic signals control the motor traffic and the pedestrians, do not dare to cross when the red man is on. If a control button is available, press and wait for the green man. The duration between the red man and the green man is hardly two minutes. So why be restless and prefer colliding with a vehicle instead of waiting for two minutes? It is your preference. In the end, your life is in peril. Never try to cross when the green man blinks, which signals the pedestrian, to 'hurry.' We play the role of the pedestrian in our daily routines.

Follow this set of best practices and make others live easier. Next week, we hope to bring you another episode of rules on courtesy driving dedicated to bicycles and motor vehicles. Let us do our duty to lessen accidents.