Veritable death traps the common citizens face daily on our roads

The article “Stats show pedestrians an endangered species” by Shaadya Ismail, in the Sunday Times on February 2, is a real eye opener and describes correctly the current situation.

The legislators and citizens of the so called high society, never or seldom walk on the roads of this country. They travel around in their luxurious vehicles and are totally blind to the lot of unfortunate citizens who are not so privileged and use the dismal public transport and walk on the roads daily.

As a common citizen, a senior citizen at that, I have to walk the streets to attend to my day to day chores. Please find below my observations in the area that I walk around and the perils we common people have to undergo every day. I refer to the following areas: Elvitigala Mawatha, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Horton Place, Kynsey Road and Maitland Crescent.

1. The pavements are used for parking and the pedestrians need to step on the road even during busy times.

2. Most pavements are in a very poor condition due to parking of vehicles and are a veritable death trap.

3. Motorcyclists ride on the pavements with arrogance.

4. Pedestrian crossings are totally ignored by the motorists - cross at your own risk, is the common attitude.

5. Opposite the British School of Colombo, the parking space is blocked by huge concrete blocks, and one third of the Elvitigala Mawatha is used as parking space (vehicles blocking the entire road) all in the name of security.

6. Some private commercial establishments too block and reserve the parking areas for their customers. Unfortunately, the Traffic Police is totally blind to this situation and it seems there are no traffic laws or discipline on our roads. The horns blaring for no reason is something we all should be ashamed of as a nation. Over to you, I.G.P or in your helplessness we beg our President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to spare a thought for us, the common citizen.

Ravindra Perera Via email