A traffic light does two things: Saves life, takes away life

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I find it so difficult why drivers pretend they don’t know anything about traffic lights. Red is for stop, orange for slow down and green for go. It’s simple as 123.

A traffic light does two things: Saves life, takes away life

By Karen Mae Josef 

Street. Credits to: http://flickr.com/revengeofthe

In Manila, every year billions of people cross the street. Every year thousands of people die crossing the street. It is like you are crossing the street with a devil. We usually see news flashed in television or a headline in a newspaper “An 8 year old-boy was hit and run by a truck in Commonwealth” This is a kind of news we usually sometime.

Following the traffic light is very easy. It is easy as counting 1, 2, 3 or singing A, B, C. Maybe you are also wondering why crossing the street in Manila feels like you are crossing the hanging bridge.

In other countries like Japan, kids are very used in going to school by walking or riding a bike. Unlike in Philippines, kids are being fetched in houses going to school. Parents don’t want their children to go to school by themselves. Even adults who are already working are scared in crossing the street.

“I find it so difficult why drivers pretend they don’t know anything about traffic lights. Red is for stop, orange for slow down and green for go. It’s simple as 123.” said Carissa, college student.

Even Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) built overpasses, sidewalks, pedestrian lanes and put traffic lights on the busy streets in Manila. Death tolls still increases. We citizens should be responsible for using these and should be familiar with the laws. We are the ones who pay taxes for building the overpasses, sidewalks, pedestrian lanes and traffic lights. Those are made for our safety. And if we keep on disobeying those laws or keep doing what’s wrong how are we going to prevent death toll increase? What’s the point of building those sidewalks, traffic lights, overpasses etc. and implementing those laws if we citizens will never learn to follow them and use them in a proper way?

            “People should be familiar with the laws and should use overpasses and pedestrian lanes. It’s for their safety too” said Louise, 22.

            We all have a purpose in crossing the street. We cross the street because we go to school because in the future you want to have your own business. We cross the street because we have a family waiting for us at home. We cross the street because we work very hard for our kids. We cross the street because we all have a dream and a goal.

And we should not put all the blame to our government officials because discipline should start in us. If we have discipline, we will be able to avoid car accidents. So let’s start to do the right thing.