The roads of today are choked with cars, lorries, motorcycles and other vehicles. The congestion has increased steadily over the years. The inevitable result of this congestion is the increase in the number of road accidents. Every day many road users get injured or killed. The dangers on the road are many. It is wise to know what they are and how to avoid them.
In towns and cities where the congestion is the greatest, pedestrians are the ones with the highest risks. Flesh is no match against metal or plastic. To be hit by a vehicle almost certainly means injury, or death. So while crossing the streets, it is always better to use the pedestrian crossings that are usually located at junctions, regardless of whether the crossings have light or not. Even so be sure to observe the vehicles on the road before crossing. There are some drivers who do not stop at pedestrian crossings. Cross only when you know it is safe to do so, not because the light is green for you. If there are overhead pedestrian bridges, better still. Use them even though it might be a bit inconvenient. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Dashing across the street anywhere you like is a dangerous act. You might get away with it a thousand times, but it takes only one accident to put you down, temporarily or permanently. The consequences are terrible, as accident victims will testify to.
“Speed kills”, as the warning signs on highways say. How true it is. Accidents occurring along the highways are frequently fatal. Sometimes entire families are wiped out in a single accident. The vehicles are reduced to unrecognizable mangled heaps of metal. It is common to read about how the fire department “took an hour to remove the bodies from the wreckage”. Do not speed on the road. This is the lesson to be learnt.
Despite the horror, many road users have not learned the lesson. They continue to speed and behave recklessly. This is especially so with young motorcyclists. With their devil-may-care attitude and their illegal midnight races, they not only endanger themselves but other road users as well. You will be well-advised to stay clear of them.
When on the road, know the dangers and avoid them. In the first instance, do not endanger other road users with irresponsible behavior such as jaywalking, using the mobile phone while driving and beating red lights. Irresponsible road users are the greatest danger on the road. Do not let yourself be one.
wipe out to destroy something completely
recklessly doing something dangerous and not worrying about the risks and the possible results
jaywalking to walk across a road at a place where it is not allowed or without taking care to avoid the traffic
