Jaywalking across flyovers!
IF one has viewed our yesterday's photo series of jaywalking by pedestrians along the Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover near Tikatuili then one must have had a chill running through one's spine.
The photos showed cluster of pedestrians risking their lives while scaling over and slipping through the divider along the flyover. This kind of crossing is not only unlawful but also dangerous as one is likely get hit by a wheezing vehicle any minute. In case of a flyover, a fast travelling vehicle is a common scene and it is difficult for it to slow down due to the sheer force of inertia. In fact, the photo series also exposes the widely prevailing mentality to take short-cuts where value of life is overtaken by the value of time. By a demonstration effect, it also encourages jaywalking in general across other busy roads.
Against the backdrop of such habitual recourse to shortcut to the extent of avoiding footbridges or underpasses, we stress the need for introducing stricter rules for stopping the hazardous trait of jaywalking. Using billboards and hoardings beside the roads to highlight the dangers of and punishments for jay walking is strongly suggested. Those who risk their lives for crossing roads illegally should be penalised by patrolling teams. Moreover, massive awareness building campaigns should be carried out against reckless movement along roads.
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