Zebra crossings at busy roads of the capital are no more providing a safe passage to the pedestrians, as drivers rarely bother to stop to let people cross safely. Despite knowing that zebra crossings are made to let people safely cross the roads, "but motorists don't even bother to slow down or stop," when pedestrians approach the zebra crossing.
"It is meant to give safe passage to people and the drivers are bound to facilitate pedestrians," he added. Senior citizen, women or children, all are seen standing for long at zebra crossing in hope of an easy passage but speedy motorists rarely allow them to step on the road.
"I stood near a Zebra crossing at the side of a busy road and keep waiting but no car stopped," complained a pedestrian at the Peshawar More.
He said when I got tired of waiting; "I dashed across the road while praying". Despite Zebra crossing the pedestrian cross the roads hap hazardly without caring walk a few steps to the prescribed passage. One wonders if its normal to run across the streets or it is a motor reaction that has been evolved over the years due to a prevailing bad road-culture, putting more pedestrians at risk. There is no space for pedestrians; all new roads and even residential localities are being built without any provision for footpaths.
Sharif Shah, a resident of Sector G-9 said that Traffic congestion has emerged as a menace over the past couple of years that saw an unprecedented increase in the number of automobiles.
He said hardly any motorists stop for crossing pedestrians at the zebra crossing, forcing them to risk precious lives jumping into heavy traffic. "Footpaths are almost obsolete in the big cities. Those that still exist are encroached upon by vendors forcing the pedestrian to risk lives by stepping on the road for a smooth walk," he said.