News
Photo focus: Courting accidents
Accidents on our streets are common and the numbers keep increasing.
Traffic jam or blocks are often caused as drivers and riders all attempting to cut across traffic at the same time. A common sight, especially in areas where traffic lights are not in operation...
Some of these accidents are the result of sheer negligence. Others are caused by reckless drivers or motor cyclists. But yet some others are caused by pedestrians themselves.
Today accidents at pedestrian crossings too are also on the increase. A recent example of this being the case reported last week where a Buddhist monk was killed at the Pannipitiya pedestrian crossing.
Pedestrians using mobile phones as they cross roads, blissfully oblivious of traffic are a common sight these days. Not surprisingly this lack of concentration has contributed to the high incidence of accidents
Our photographer captured a number of these incidents which show how drivers riders and pedestrians collectively flout basic traffic rules and contribute to the growing number of accidents.
However, very unfortunately even local authorities too are responsible for causing road accidents as street lights do not function. Pedestrians have therefore no alternative but to cross busy roads in the dark as is seen in some of the pictures captured by our cameraman.
Traffic policeman Priyadhrshana Perera said, that though police manage traffic during the peak hours, pedestrians and motorists too need to co-operate with the police at all times to maintain th4 smooth flow of traffic.
He added that the use of mobile phones by pedestrians was one of the main problems in managing traffic as people were not concentrating on traffic while walking along the road or while they were crossing the road.
This driver does not seem to know the pedestrian crossing is meant only for pedestrians
Deeply engrossed in his telephone conversation this young man does not seem to realise he has strayed onto the main road
Not concentrating while crossing busy roads could lead this young man to an early demise
Unlit pedestrian crossings have often proven to be death traps to pedestrians.