Zebra Crossings and Value for Human Life

At different points in time, while exercising my pedestrian rights walking through zebra crossings on a serene campus, I have almost been knocked down by moving vehicles! 

Sometimes other ‘ignorant and unlearned’ motorists yell out at your effrontery to walk through a zebra crossing when you can see them approaching!  At other times I have also noted the plight of several pedestrians who ‘love their lives’ having to wait at zebra crossings while impatient motorists drive by. 

Interestingly, I recently read incidences of disregard for the road culture of giving pedestrians the right of way at zebra crossings in Egypt, as documented by an Egyptian blogger. 

Thinking on these recurrent phenomena, I question the effectiveness of training offered at driving schools in instilling civil road behaviour. Whereas in some developed societies, the process of obtaining a driver’s license is one of the ‘biggest deals’ ever, for some African countries, especially Nigeria, the giant of Africa, much is left to be desired.

Pondering on highlights of a recent public lecture delivered by the gracefully brilliant Professor Peyi Soyinka-Airewele  on ‘The End of Politics: Reclaiming Humanity in the Age of Biopower and Necropolitics’,  I perceive that such trivial instances of disrespect for pedestrians at zebra crossings could be an indicator of a wider social dysfunction – lack or low value for human life. 

As such, one needs to ask what mechanisms differ in countries where motorists give pedestrians the right of way at zebra crossings and countries where people have to wait out for motorists to use zebra crossings. 

There are a number of underlying questions: how can regulations regarding violation of pedestrian rights be useful in promoting greater value for the human life in Nigerian/African communities? How can the presence or absence of ample road signs improve motorist compliance with road regulations?

In addition, other related socio-economic research questions include the following. Is there need for community policing in private communities as there are in public spaces? How does the process of qualifying for a driver’s licence influence motorists compliance with road signs and laws? 

What is the level of awareness of motorists about standard road regulations and culture? What effect do socio-demographic characteristics have on a motorist’s tendency to violate traffic rules? What impact does attending a formal driving school have on the awareness of road traffic rules and signs? 

To what extent does the presence of law enforcement agents influence motorist compliance with traffic rules? What is the role of community police, in private communities such as residential estates, university campuses, industrial clusters, in enforcing compliance with traffic regulations? 

What is the revenue potential for local governments and private communities, from issuance of traffic violation tickets? What is the effect of insufficient road signs on compliance with road regulations, such as respect for pedestrians at zebra crossings?

Going forward, an inquiry into the above questions can influence revisions to and awareness creation about the road safety code in Nigeria and other African countries. 

Even though having road regulations is fantastic, policing the regulations to ensure compliance and ultimately create a road safety culture is more compelling. 

If governments and private domestic investors invest so much on the installation of road infrastructure, there need be concomitant commitment to ensure an inclusive road culture.

The discussion continues…