Growing up, we were urged to look left, right then left again, before attempting to cross the road. Most of the roads were narrow then, with little room for a dual carriageway. Today, many of our roads have seen some level of expansion into dual lanes from what they used to be.
Businesses and residential properties were primarily affected by the process. The aim was to ease traffic, and motor accidents and improve transportation.
So I ask…
Is it still prudent to look left, right and left again when the road is a one-way lane on both sides?
On August 4th 1974, Ghana changed its traffic system from left-hand to right-hand drive. Being the last country in West Africa to change to adopt this.
Today, motorbike riders have made this spectacle completely impossible. The habit of springing up on pedestrians from the right side of the road is just alarming and has resulted in many uncataloged accidents on urban and federal roads. With children being the major victims in these instances.
Another interesting category of road users is the bicycle riders, who equally spring up causing a sudden panic since they produce no sound when approaching, with their often failed ringing bells to alert other road users as they get closer.
The final and most irritating category of road users are the trotro mates who call out and disrupt pedestrians from the other side, whilst they attempt to cross the street, all in the name of chasing passengers.
Well, Should we keep living with this or something could be done? But even if something could be done, how long would it last?
<<Print>>