CONCERN FOR PEDESTRIANS

By Dora Addy

How many pedestrians became part of the statistics involving road accidents in 2016? We are all pedestrians at some point in time, and so the need to properly secure their lives is of utmost importance to also protect the rest of human lives that would do the walk.

Walking is a natural act that requires very little human effort- whether jogging in the morning, fetching the day’s newspapers, or hurriedly making it to the roadside to board a commercial vehicle to one’s destination, we all sometimes come to experience the dangers associated with walking.

Soon, when care is not taken, we may also be counted as casualties. It is not that care is not being taken; dangerous encounters with vehicles and other elements of peril may soon overwhelm us, causing the unfortunate to happen.

By and large, using the road can be a complex task; cars honking at you, strenuous road regulations, documentation challenges to be contended with by the vehicle owner, uncalled for confrontations with the police, among other things that call for the attention of the vehicle owner.

Pedestrians will not always be one hundred percent safe, no matter the value put in place to ensure a high level of safety; somehow, someone will fall victim to the road rage. Unfortunately, not many offenders will be caught and prosecuted, and many more will fall victim to the careless actions of drivers.

For what may not always be attributed as the fault of pedestrians, persons who frequent the streets cannot always be blamed for such accidents that happen. There are many pedestrians today who have been affected in some way, because a careless driver did not observe the rules.  Not all pedestrians can be blamed for what happens.

Nonetheless, many pedestrians today are still affected by the use of mobile devices that may soon take their attention from the roads, onto those gizmos they may be using.

Listening to the news, music, or even speaking to a loved one on the phone can be exciting, but very dangerous too. This activity can be so alluring that pedestrians are soon landed on dreamland. But this is unwise and the fastest way to meet one’s death.

Other pedestrians may simply find themselves on the wrong side of the street. While very few foot bridges are in place for pedestrians, and while the few available ones may be far from reach to pedestrians, it is quite disturbing to find people jumping over ledges in order to cross the streets. These areas are usually highways where drivers drive at top speed! Yet some pedestrians will do all to brave these dangerous areas, just to cross over to the other side of the road.

Some pedestrians simply ignore traffic signs and find themselves wanting. Not many pedestrians would obey traffic regulations, considering the traffic lights only as devices for car users. Pedestrians have also been included in the use of traffic lights, where these electronic devices direct people to halt or cross at the passing of other vehicles. Traffic lights are helpful devices to guiding the safety of all pedestrians to the other side of the road.

While helpful means may be available to make the road experience much easier for pedestrians, many others are not still observant. They simply may be ignorant, stubborn or careless altogether to discovering the use of the road. The sheer lack of observation can lead to high costs in detriments.

CREATIVE ROAD DESIGNS

Currently, our roads are being designed to include pedestrian walkways and foot bridges. But sadly, these features may not always be present on many roads elsewhere.

These days, our walkways even include areas for motor bikes and bicycles, and while these features may be good to protect bikers, pedestrians may also be at high risk as they have to share these walkways with bikers on those specially made features on walkways.

While pedestrians will have to be careful using a common walkway with bikers, more of such walkways are encouraged for those areas where they may be lacking. Road planners must also consider how effective footbridges can be especially on highways.

THE DIFFICULT HAWKERS

Many hawkers are prone to the dangers of road accidents.

Whereas street hawking was limited to some of the central business districts in the capital and elsewhere, the case no longer holds.

Hawkers may soon be affected crossing the roads at various intervals in order to sell their wares. Selling in the middle of the road, and only using the pavement at short intervals. Standing in the middle of the street to sell can only cause quick death among hawkers.

Although no law allows hawkers the right to sell in the middle of the road, it is a common venue for many who wish to quickly sell their products, ranging from food items to electricals. Very often, these individuals are left to fend for themselves in the event of accidents, while offenders quickly speed off.

Hawkers are naturally difficult- wanting to pursue drivers and passengers for their wares. They are usually great in number and can confuse drivers who are trying to have a clear view of the road ahead of them.

This group of pedestrians are most prone to danger, but they themselves may not be aware or even choose to ignore the danger signs.

The roads have literally become an abode, where they do rest and lay their wares during business on the roads.

THINK ON THESE

Still more can be done to make life safer and easier for pedestrians. Street lights ought to be maintained where lacking, because pedestrian challenges not only reflects in vehicular accidents, but instead, certain rogues may apply their logic and attack innocent pedestrians.

Zebra crossings may have be marked on the roads to determine where pedestrians must stand to cross the roads. Where such road markings have erased, they will need to be repainted to indicate to pedestrians their usefulness in crossing roads.

Now, we have all come to understand how many of our roads do suffer neglect. Many roads are not maintained after construction, and so speed bumps, which to a large extent avert accidents and protect children especially, have slowly disappeared from our roads. Speed bumps not only help limit speed on our roads, but also aid pedestrians to cross while they can.

Instead of colluding with them, the police must play active roles in arresting road offenders. Today, there are vehicle owners who commit crimes against pedestrians, get away with such crimes because they can easily offer to pay at the stations and headquarters of the police, to have their confiscated vehicles released to them.

Irresponsible drivers must be made to face the law, in order to protect pedestrians, and vehicles without documents should be seized.

Drivers must be patient on the roads. Over speeding while only going a brief distance must not be tolerated, while drunkenness is subject to huge liabilities at the law courts.

Meanwhile constant security patrols will help to curb some of the attacks thrown against pedestrians in the evenings. Pedestrians may not be hit by vehicles, but may be prone to attacks from unruly persons in society who would wish to rob them, usually with very dangerous weapons, causing harm, and even death.

We are all pedestrians and these precautions and more, should not be taken for granted.