For pedestrians crossing a section of Rajaji Salai near Errabalu Street in George Town, it’s a choice between a quick dash across the road and a long wait before they make it to the other side. Obviously, they choose the first option.
There is a zebra-crossing at this point, which has been rendered useless by motorists who would not slow down, let alone stop, for pedestrians.
“It is risky to dart across the road amidst moving vehicles but the motorists do not leave us with a choice. Though the road has a zebra-crossing, we feel that it is invisible to the motorists. Unless we gesture to them to stop, they don’t halt or slow down. Despite that, many of them don’t stop as if we too are invisible,” says S. Kumar, a pedestrian.
Since the zebra crossing has failed to rein in speeding motorists, pedestrians want the Traffic Police Department to build a wide speed breaker. “On NSC Bose Road, there are three speed breakers at vantage points that force motorists to slow down and allow pedestrians to cross safely. The traffic police should take steps to install similar speed breakers here,” he adds.