Crossing city roads

I feel at a loss looking at the pictures carried in newspaper  showing people in the capital carelessly crossing busy roads. They feign to be not aware of a foot over-bridge only a short walk from there. This practice of jaywalking has lately increased sharply. Apart from the risks of accidents posed by it, crossing roads at a wrong place creates trouble for the persons who are at the steering wheel of the speeding automobiles.

Those who walk across the major roads by just raising their arms up are most probably unaware of this hurdle for the car or bus drivers. The authorities concerned appear to have never bothered about making the city residents aware of this problem.

Given this practice of walking across the roads defiantly, there should be a vigorous campaign on the part of the relevant agencies, especially those which deal with the city traffic and traffic rules. Besides, provision for slapping token fines on the jaywalkers ought to be there. At the same time, people should be encouraged to use the over-bridges through media campaigns.

In terms of area, population and the number of vehicles and buildings, Dhaka is now among the major cities of the world. But we have already hit the bottom rung on the index of cities' liveability. We can inch our way up from this pitiable place by adopting the civilised norms befitting an ideal metropolis. Knowing how to cross roads, going by the practice of using over-bridges and underpasses are among the imperatives called for this graduation.

Rahnuma Shabnam

Gulshan, Dhaka