Traffic Regulations; Duties of Pedestrians

 Duties of Pedestrians

As a pedestrian, you should always use good judgement and not interrupt the flow of traffic. Crossing streets without any concern for traffic rules or signals is called jaywalking. It is extremely dangerous and can result in injuries.

•They must cross the road at a right angle, or take the shortest route possible when crossing.

•They must not cross suddenly in front of oncoming traffic.

•They must use sidewalks if provided. If there are no sidewalks, they must walk on the left side of the road.

•They must obey all traffic signals.

Pedestrians crossing the road (Zebra Crossing)

Causes of Road Accidents

1.Distracted Driving: Distracted drivers are the top cause of car accidents today. A distracted driver is a motorist that diverts his or her attention from the road, usually talking on a cell phone, send a text message, or eat food.

2.Speeding: Many drivers ignore the speed limit and drive 10, 20, and sometimes 30 mph over the limit. Speed kills, and traveling above the speed limit is an easy way to cause a car accident.

3.Drunk Driving: When you drink, you lose the ability to focus and function properly and it is very dangerous when operating a vehicle.

4.Running Red Lights: When you are driving your car, red means stop and not doing so usually leads to car accidents. Drivers that run red lights, run the risk of causing wrongful death.

5.Wrong-Way Driving: When you go the wrong way, everyone is in danger because you are heading towards a car accident.

6. Improper Turns: When drivers ignore the rules of the road, car accidents are often the result.

7.Potholes: Drivers run the risk of losing control of their car or blowing out a tire when they drive over potholes.

The roles of drivers in reducing  road accidents

1. People should consider other road users and work their own safety too.

2. Parents should teach their children to take responsibility for their own safety when using the road.

3. Individuals can also register voluntarily with the government as special road marshals to assist traffic wardens with traffic management.

4. All categories of drivers and vehicle owners must be made to undergo regular refresher courses because peer influence in driving cannot be overlooked.

5. Public and private sector organizations must be encouraged or compelled to regularly train their drivers.

6. Insurance companies should have incentives, such as discounts on premiums for individuals and organizations that sponsored their drivers for re-training programmes.

7. There should be no sacred cows or VIPs in the enforcement of road traffic laws and regulations.