By Alec Hogg
“….how many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn’t see?” – Bob Dylan, Blowin’ in the Wind.
On our way home yesterday, we passed an intersection where workers were replacing an uprooted traffic light. Justin told us one of his friends was there. He was waiting at the red light when a car rushed past, trying to speed through the busy intersection. The driver either lost control or swerved to avoid oncoming traffic. His car ploughed into a group of people waiting on the corner for a taxi.
“…how many deaths will it takes till he knows, that too many people have died?”
I have no idea how many people didn’t make it home that night. Or whether the perpetrator was drunk or temporarily insane. When nobody famous dies, this kind of tragedy hardly registers in the mass media. But, surely, it’s high time South Africa got serious about the carnage on its roads? With the country in mourning over the high profile road death of cabinet minister Collins Chabane, now is as good a time as any to reflect. A new way must be found to make this nation understand that traffic laws are not mere suggestions.
From Richard Hogben
Alec so true. Yesterday I narrowly avoided being hit by a policeman pulling out of a stop street talking on his phone. We need mobile – as in on wheels – enforcement of the law and of proper driving behaviour.
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