Encroachment on zebra crossings by motorists endangers pedestrians

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 11: Even though there has been certain developments in Imphal city in line with Smart City project, many riders--it seems "aren't smart" enough and still flouting even the most basic traffic rules.
Jumping red light, parking on zebra crossing, riding without a helmet and speeding are seen aplenty daily.
By flouting the traffic rules, riders are not only putting their lives in danger but also the lives of pedestrians/bystanders.
While traffic police are issuing challans for violating traffic rules such as riding without a helmet or a license, they seem to have ignored some violations which are often causing inconvenience and putting the lives of other commuters and pedestrians at risk.
Parking vehicles on zebra crossing is against the Motor Vehicles Act but traffic police seem to have ignored this violation.
In almost all parts of Imphal city, many vehicles can be seen parking on the zebra crossings while waiting for the green light. While this causes great inconvenience to pedestrians who are trying to cross the road, traffic police have not observed this as a violation worthy off issuing a warning or a fine.
Pedestrians walking the busy roads of Imphal told this reporter that in their years of commute, they have not seen the traffic police issuing challans to a single vehicle for parking on the zebra crossing.
"In all parts of Imphal, many vehicles can be seen parking on the zebra crossing daily. The roads are busy and many times, pedestrians find no safe space for crossing the road," said a woman who visits Khwairamband daily for business.
The number of vehicles plying the roads in the city has increased manifold over the years.
With roads becoming more congested, pedestrians are finding it very difficult to commute without risking their lives, she said.
Even with the traffic light system, crossing a busy junction has become not an easy feat, she added.
The woman said she usually has to navigate her way in the midst of the vehicles parked on the zebra crossings.
"Daily, we see vehicles speeding, jumping the red light and parking on zebra crossing. Traffic police shouldn't check only the license and the helmet, they must also issue challans to those who jump the red light and park their vehicles on the zebra crossing," the woman said.
Echoing similar experience, a man said the installation of footbridges at some locations are a positive step towards improving the commute of the pedestrians.
He said Imphal city needs more footbridges for the safety and convenience of the pedestrians.
He suggested that footbridges may be installed near the Governor's Gate and at Babupara and other congested places.
About parking of vehicles on zebra crossing, the man said he has not seen any vehicles issued challan for the violation.
"Sometimes we see traffic police issuing verbal warning to vehicles for parking on zebra crossing, but I have not seen any challans issued to them so far," said the man.
A zebra crossing has no meaning or purpose, if it can't be kept as a safe space for pedestrians to cross the road, he said.
Issuing challans for the violation would deter people from parking their vehicles on the zebra crossing, he said.
Enforcing the Motor Vehicles Act effectively would save innocent lives. The traffic police should do their job seriously and enforce the rules strictly, he added.
The man also emphasised that the traffic police ought to check people driving vehicles while talking over the phone.
Driving vehicles while taking calls puts the lives of bystanders in danger, he said.
Further stating that over-speeding is a primary cause for road accidents, the man said the traffic police should consider installing machines and mechanisms to detect and identify over-speeding vehicles.
The traffic police should check over-speeding and people driving without seatbelts, he added.
A Traffic Police officer who doesn't want to be named said the traffic police have opened booths in congested areas and are conducting drives to educate people on the traffic rules.
He said, the Motor Vehicles Act has been amended and the fines for the violations have been hiked to deter people from violating the rules.
While the traffic police are enforcing the rules, there are many people who violate traffic rules in absence of the police, he said.
"In absence of traffic police, they drive rashly and violate traffic rules putting their lives and others' at risk. Many are still riding vehicles without helmets," said the officer.
While the department is conducting drives to educate people on traffic rules, the public must also take responsibility to make the roads and their environment safe. Even in the absence of traffic lights or police, they must obey and adhere to the traffic rules and never put their lives and others at risk, the officer added.