Friday 5 July 2013

ROAD ACCIDENTS-CARELESS LIFESTYLE?




There’s no doubt that one of the reasons for some of the senseless and avoidable carnage on the roads is indiscipline, perpetuated by both drivers and pedestrians-with the former castigated and derided repeatedly.

But the carelessness and aloofness with which some pedestrians use the roads is something worth discussing also.

The statistics as a result of road accidents and killings is gruesome. The scale of blame tilts mostly towards the drivers and less towards the pedestrian(s). But, these road safety campaigners sometimes forget that the road user is as culpable in causing accidents in same measure as the guy behind the wheels.

This isn’t the reason for this post. My major concern has to do with the strange happenings on our roads, reference to the route I ply back and forth, each day.


On the route I ply each day, I witness with grave apprehension the aloofness with which pedestrians use the road. It appears these pedestrians expect the driver of the car, who has a right to the road, to either stop for them to cross (yes a driver is expected to do so at zebra crossings or as a favour) or wait on them to take all the time in the world to cross the road (very irritating).

Some also cross without care at traffic lights when the light is green, expecting the driver to pull his breaks upon seeing them. Then there are those who block roads to host ‘festive’ gatherings without recourse to notification.


The situation is vivid at traffic intersections where pedestrians cross without heeding to traffic signals. The beam will be green yet you’ll find people crossing and woe betides you if you complain or honk on them.  Some of these persons even have the audacity to look the driver in the eye and spew very unprintable words on him/her as if the person has committed the gravest crime ever recorded in the annals of time.

Accidents occur even when one is cautious. That is, one can’t predict the occurrence of an accident. Of course, some of our behaviours do put us in a precarious position to get injured or killed.

Vehicles, like any man made machine, are prone to faults. So a car might have a brake failure whiles in motion. And imagine a pedestrian ‘swagging’ on the road; the consequences won’t be a pretty one.

As people we must recognize how important life is. You may survive an accident but your may never recover from its effect. Road users must also note that they are as responsible in ensuring good road safety measures as the driver of a car.

As for the okada drivers and their comportment on the road it makes sense when you hear some road safety advocates call for its ban. They are as reckless and sometimes stupid in their driving as the adjectives used.

Life is precious. And we should  all be a little cautious when using the road.  Such unnecessary deaths/accidents can be reduced drastically if we exercise a bit of caution. A word to the wise…

11 comments:

  1. When I was living in Ghana, I was floored by the amount of accidents I would see. I was also in quite a few (minor) accidents. Not that they don't happen in the US. but there seems to be a lack of enforcement. Sadly, had an acquaintance in Ghana die by a hit and run driver while on his bike. I wish people would live by the saying "when you drive, your also driving for everyone else." Be careful out there.

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  2. I have a policy of not walking on the road with my back facing an on-coming vehicle. I always stop and wait for the vehicle to pass.
    As you've pointed out, the laws are not enforced so people take things for granted. As for hit-and-runs, they occur a lot here. Unfortunately

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  3. Interesting, especially if you look at it from the pedestrian's view. I've seen people crossing the motorway like cars don't kill. But I blame proper education on both sides, driver and pedestrian.

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  4. The driver has a legal right to the road just as the pedestrian, but pedestrians are more vulnerable. Some drivers expect you to beg before they let you cross and when they do, they expect a thanksgiving sacrifice from you. I have nine lives so I cross the road the way I like.

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  5. Lot's of the accidents on the road are avoidable. If only pedestrians and drivers would obey regulation.
    When i was in primary school, once a kid stood next to a Zebra Crossing, drivers would stop to allow him to cross. Now they don't even care. I witnessed a vehicle knock down a lady at the Accra Mall Zebra crossing. If not for vigilant bystanders, the driver would have run away. Thankfully the lady didn't sustain major injuries, just a few bruises

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  6. Replies
    1. We all have to be careful and responsible

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  7. Some people take risks. Like getting into a car with someone you know is drunk and you let the person drive. A friend is currently paralyzed from the shoulder down, and she's not even conscious yet to realise she will be able to move only her neck from henceforth. so far, after weeks of being unconscious, she has only smiled.:( Road accidents are just...hmmm

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    1. A very tragic situation. Wish her all the best. Certain risks are definitely not worth it

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  8. Though sad, I also think that this has been the reality of our roads for the past years. If people, pedestrians and motorists alike, would be a little more disciplined and respectful to each other, the number of road accidents would greatly decrease. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

    The Zalkin Law Firm, P.C.

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