Crossing the road –
Difficulties of Disabled and Senior Citizens
Nowadays
traffic has increased so much that crossing a road from one side to the other
has become hazardous for the disabled and senior citizens. There are no traffic
signals, traffic police or volunteers or zebra crossings at many busy junctions
to control traffic. As a result of dividers and medians sometimes one has to
walk a long distance and take a u turn to go to opposite side. One has to cross
at his own risk, if he chooses to climb over median separator. One friend used
to hire an auto just to get to the other side or to avoid walking long
distances forcing him to take u turn. Dividers are too high and risky to use.
What
should be done to mitigate these problems? Here is a quick enumeration of ten
suggestions:
1.
Install zebra crossings at reasonable distances. Paint them bright. Provide
proper illumination during night time.
2.
Repair road clearing potholes pits etc
3. Provide
where possible audible announcements to interpret change of signal lights
4.
Provide signal lights in plenty wherever feasible.
5.
Keep police men or volunteers at road crossings. Volunteers are available from
Aasara, Scouts, NCC and even in corporate companies. Senior Citizens
associations are also ready to send volunteers who are healthy and willing.
6.
Sensitize students and youth in colleges about caring for elders. Let helping
the needy to cross roads be one of the many things they can do
7.
Sensitize senior citizens in pedestrian safety by organizing training programs
by police
8.
Book and punish those who are guilty of traffic offenses, especially harming
vulnerable pedestrians.
9.
Wheever feasible provide overhead pathway crossovers with lifts.
10.Underground
subways to reach other side where sufficient space is available should be
constructed
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