培养公路安全意识

In recent weeks a spate of fatal road accidents, some involving school children at pedestrian crossings, has stirred the nation's conscience and drawn attention to the urgent need to ensure that our roads are safe for everyone.

　　Apart from deaths from illnesses, one of the biggest threats to one's life in highly motorised Singapore is to be killed in a traffic accident.

　　Are most accidents preventable？ Certainly yes, if all road users, be they motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists, taxi drivers, heavy vehicle drivers and pedestrians, diligently practise road safety rules that are designed for their protection.

　　In reality, however, these rules are honoured more by their breach than compliance. So a vehicle in irresponsible hands can be a most lethal weapon.

　　Take the average Singaporean driver as an example. A usually rational person can be transformed suddenly into a demon behind a driving wheel. Once his impatience and selfishness gets the better of him, he becomes recklessly indifferent to the traffic rules and safety of others just to get his own way.

　　Our taxi and heavy vehicle drivers also drive like maniacs on the roads, while our motorcyclists and cyclists, seemingly unaware of their particular vulnerability, habitually weave in and out of traffic dangerously, whenever it suits them.

　　The pedestrian, too, knowingly jaywalks in the face of fast-moving traffic. Tragically, many paid with their precious lives in vain.

　　Why are these inconsiderate road behaviours so common in Singapore, when its citizens are regularly held up by others as law-abiding？ Do they not realise their foolhardiness and that they are tarnishing the Republic's image？

　　First and foremost, road safety consciousness is generally not firmly ingrained in Singaporeans. Many would flout the laws if they think they can do so with impunity. They often succeed because policemen cannot be everywhere.

　　Unlike in Japan and the more advanced Western countries, there is a marked absence of strong peer pressure here to deter these anti-social behaviours.

　　One of the worst character traits of Singaporeans is that a traffic violator would often react aggressively if he is told of his misdoings, and, not infrequently, injuries or deaths had resulted in consequence of road rages.

　　It is, therefore, not surprising that uncivilised road conducts are pervasive as most aggrieved parties would rather tolerate these culprits than asserting their rights with unpredictable consequences.

　　Many concerned Singaporeans have repeatedly urged that remedial actions be taken to improve the traffic situation. Some of their useful suggestions have been actively debated in newspaper columns but forgotten after a while.

　　In my view, Government and the public must intensify their efforts to tackle this pressing problem as a joint national undertaking in order to prevent more mayhem on our roads.

　　The following proposals are put forth in the hope that they would generate more public discussion：

　　Firstly, a comprehensive review of our traffic and related laws be carried out to ensure that they keep abreast with changing circumstances. Where appropriate, substantially heavier fines and enhanced punishments be inflicted on those who commit serious offences.

　　It is true but lamentable that Singaporeans generally respond well to stricter application of the laws. The courts' success in dealing with road rage cases comes to mind.

　　Secondly, illegal parking and traffic obstruction occur daily all over Singapore, particularly near schools, markets, religious institutions, food centres, in housing estates and even on busy roads, often leading to traffic chaos, frayed tempers and even accidents with injuries or deaths.

　　It's time we stopped these irresponsible acts, especially when parking lots are readily available in the vicinity.

　　Thirdly, a road safety culture must be nurtured and take roots here. An imaginative road safety campaign, with sustained support of employers, employees, trade unions, media and others, be held at regular intervals with effective follow-up actions aimed at the whole community.

　　If Singaporeans can repeat the admirable team spirit during the SARS outbreak, our roads definitely will be safer.

　　Lastly, our schools and parents can and should play a pivotal role in transmitting road safety and civic consciousness as a way of life to the young under their charge. Their influence in this regard cannot be over emphasised.

　　To use a time-honoured cliche, let's together make road safety the responsibility of everyone in Singapore！

　　过去几个星期,发生了多起致命公路意外,不幸身亡的包括在人行道上过马路的学生。国人对此深切关注,也希望情况尽快改善,保护公路使用者的安全。

　　除了患病身亡,新加坡交通繁忙,在公路意外中丧命是对我们生命的一大威胁。

　　是不是大多数的公路意外都是可以避免的？答案是肯定的。不过,所有公路使用者,包括驾车者、电单车和脚踏车骑士、德士司机、及驾驶重型车辆者等,都必须遵守为了保护他们而制定的公路安全条例。

　　事实是,人们往往对这些条例视若无睹。在一个不负责任的人手中,一辆车可以变成一件杀人凶器。

　　新加坡的驾车者一般上是相当理智的。不过,在失去耐心和自私心里作祟下,一些司机可能突然完全失控而变得鲁莽,只顾自己的方便,无视交通规则和他人的安全。

　　在公路上横冲直撞的德士司机和重型车辆驾驶者也不乏其人,却偏偏有一些电单车和脚踏车骑士,似乎不在乎他们比其他驾车者更容易受伤,习惯性地在繁忙的交通里危险地穿梭。

　　一些行人也明知故犯地乱穿越马路,最终不幸成为轮下亡魂。

　　新加坡人时常被外人视为奉公守法的好榜样,那为什么还会有这么多人违反交通条例？他们难道不知道自己的行为不但愚蠢,也会损害新加坡的形象？

　　一个基本的问题是,国人并没有根深蒂固的公路安全意识。只要有机可乘,他们便不把条例当一回事。因为交警不可能无所不在,他们往往成功地避免受到惩罚。

　　我们的情况和日本及西方先进国家不同,我们缺乏有效的群体压力,阻吓人们做出反社会行为。在新加坡,违法的驾车者,如果受到旁观者的批评,通常会恼羞成怒,有时候更因此演变成涉及人命伤亡的路霸事件,暴露国人丑陋的一面。

　　因为害怕据理力争可能会有预料不到的后果,许多在公路纠纷中受委屈的人宁可采取姑息的态度,难怪公路上违例的行为越来越普遍。

　　关注这种情形的国人再三表示,应该采取改善措施。可惜的是,他们一些可取的建议,在报章上积极谈论后便没有下文。

　　我认为,政府和公众应该合力解决这个迫切的问题,防止更多公路意外事故。

　　以下是我的一些建议,希望能起抛砖引玉的作用。

　　第一、全面检讨我们的交通和有关的法律,确保它们不会和实际情况脱节。在适当的情况下,应该加重触犯严重罪行者的罚款和刑罚。

　　严刑峻法一般上对新加坡人非常有效,这虽然令人感到泄气,却是事实。法庭通过严惩,成功减少了路霸事件,就是一个很好的例子。

　　第二、非法停车和阻碍交通的情况到处可见,尤其是靠近学校、巴刹、庙宇和教堂、熟食中心和组屋区的道路,其中包括交通繁忙的路段。结果是造成交通混乱,人们恶言相向,有时还会导致交通意外和人命伤亡。

　　我们应该制止这些不负责任的行为,因为有些时候,停车场就在不远的地方。

　　第三、我们必须培养公路安全意识,让这个观念在社会扎根。我们也可以争取雇主、雇员、工会、媒体和其他机构的支持,定期举办别开生面的公路安全运动,并进一步把活动推广到整个社区。

　　如果国人能够重现沙斯肆虐期间的团结精神,我们的公路肯定会变得更安全。

　　学校和家长的角色也举足轻重。他们应该向孩童灌输公路安全和公民意识,让他们习以为常。

　　最后,我们应该提醒自己,“公路安全,人人有责”。这虽然是老生常谈,却有它的积极意义。