Pedestrian, watch out!
By H. Kishie Singh

ONE of the greatest hazards a driver meets on the road is the pedestrian. Figures show that 40 per cent of those killed in road mishaps on city roads are pedestrians and cyclists.

When two cars going at low speed collide, the injury will be minimal to the occupants, but the cars could get badly damaged. Imagine when a car, weighing almost a tonne and going at 30 kmph, comes into contact with a human. The collision could cause enormous damage: crushed limbs, broken bones, internal injuries and, more serious, injuries to the spine, neck and head.

The increasing population of labourers in Chandigarh has added to traffic woes as much as the cars have. These people are fresh from the village, and have no idea of coping with vehicular traffic at fast speed. Zebra crossings do not figure in their vocabulary.

It is the responsibility of the driver to watch out for pedestrians and cyclists. They are both slow-moving and, consequently, make easy targets.

Pedestrians come in all shapes and sizes — young lads, old women, walkers and shopping and office-goers. They are all equally hazardous — reliably unreliable.

The youngster who delivers tea across the road is particularly dangerous. With glasses piled high in one hand and a filthy aluminium kettle in the other, he goes about perfecting the art of dodging cars while he thinks he is invincible! After all, does he not cross the road dozens of times everyday, and has been doing it for a whole year — every since the last delivery boy got hit by a scooter, broke both legs, broke six glasses and spilled the tea.

These boys won’t slow down, it’s the motorist’s responsibility to watch out and slow down.

The safest and the quickest way for a pedestrian to cross a road is at the narrowest part and at right angles. Pedestrians, however, invariably cross the road diagonally. This means they are on the road much longer than is necessary. Every extra second spent on a motorway by a pedestrian increases his chances of having a mishap.

Other than crossing diagonally, the pedestrian may be talking on the cell phone. His concentration is not on the road and as such this constitutes a major hazard. A cell phone user meandering around on a motorway! There should be a law about cell phones and pedestrians.

Another danger could come in the shape of merry men who keep loitering on the roads. The accompanying photo shows one such band. Five people walking abreast on the road. Agreed that Chandigarh has wide roads but five persons walking in a row is really tempting fate. Two and three cyclists in a row is a common sight. Two cyclists abreast: one with his arm around the other’s shoulder. This is to make sure if one cyclist gets hit, he will pull the other into the mess.

The high danger time for pedestrians and cyclists is at dusk, when the light is fading, and at night. Like shadows, the pedestrians materialise out of nowhere. Your speed should enable you to stop in the distance you can see.

Buses have a habit of discharging passengers everywhere and anywhere. As the bus moves off you may see a whole family standing in the middle of the road. They may suddenly scatter in all directions. Humans, unlike animals, do not have a herd instinct. Nor a sense of self-preservation. Again, to save them, is the motorist’s responsibility.

For maximum safety, a pedestrian must use the zebra crossing. It is designed keeping in mind the pedestrian and his safety. A zebra crossing is not the striped animal crossing the road. It is a series of yellow lines at an intersection where a pedestrian has the right of way.

Happy motoring.