Road rules observed more in the breach
by G. Eric Muscreen
During our school days we were taken by the Police Officials of the
Department in Colombo to the Victoria Park (now Viharamahadevi Park).
That was also the time when the present 'Kelani bridge' was known as
Victoria bridge, and taught road rules pertaining to the use of vehicles
and we were also made to act as traffic wardens directing vehicles at
junctions.
We were also taught that pedestrians should walk on the right side of
the road, so that they could see on-coming vehicles thereby avoiding
accidents when compared to travelling on the left-hand side of the road.
Nowadays you see some motorists pay scant with regard to road rules.
They do not toot the horn either before overtaking another vehicle or
at a bend. In the past it was a common practice to toot the horn at a
bend, so that the unseen oncoming vehicle knows of an approaching
vehicle and is careful when negotiating the bend. Nowadays even if we
toot the horn, unlike formally, there is no reciprocation.
Even the signal lights of vehicles are not being used. The younger
motor-cyclists dispose their reflecting mirrors to give the motorcycle a
better look. The silencers are either modified or replaced to give a
blaring sound. This aspect is very common with the private buses plying
between Mannar/Vavunia and Colombo.
It is heartening to hear that the Police are arranging to crackdown
on motorists using silencers with blaring sounds and if this legislation
is enacted to motorists using blaring horns, it will be a great blessing
not only to pedestrians but also to people living close to the roads.
Even at pedestrian crossings seldom do we find a courteous driver
stopping to let a pedestrian cross-over. More often than not, the
pedestrian has to wait until an oncoming vehicle is far away to
hurriedly cross the road.
Here again it would be advisable (if feasible) to install colour
lights, so that pedestrians do not have to languish at pedestrian
crossings, due to some motorists giving scant regard and moving
regardless, eventhough there is a large gathering of pedestrians waiting
to cross-over. In foreign countries, when a heavy vehicle is moving
around 40 kmph they are bound to move towards the kerb of the road and
give way to the vehicles following, so that they can overtake and move
at a higher speed.
Sad to say this courtesy is hard to be experienced on our highways,
especially the motorcyclists are made to inhale the dust aroused by the
said vehicle in front. I had this experience recently and managed to
overtake when the heavy vehicle in front had to give way to an
approaching vehicle.
This is beautiful Sri Lanka and sad to say correcting these
shortcomings is going to be a herculean task, because those committing
these faults are the incorrigible type, and therefore the intervention
of the Police is of paramount importance if we are to solve these
shortcomings to a great extent. |