Road users violate zebra crossings

Most motorists and pedestrians no longer respect this sign on streets in Yaounde, thus causing accidents.

“Most pedestrians are not aware of the fact that they are secured when they cross on the Zebra Crossing.” These were the words of Nicholas Bagnak, a lecturer in a driving school in the capital city, Yaounde. Generally, most road users do not know the importance of the Zebra Crossing.

Paul Mbeng, a car owner estimated that three quarters of drivers do not know what the Zebra Crossing is meant for. Most of the time, he says, these are drivers who did not learn driving in a professional driving school. “Most motorists who commit such an act buy the driving licence. Out of 100 drivers, only 20 per cent know its importance,” he added.

Walking down town Yaounde, this uncivil behaviour is plainly perpetrated by most road users. It takes a run on the Zebra Crossing to avoid being knocked down by oncoming cars on high speed. Most cab drivers do not slow down when they get to this spot. Instead, they accelerate the speed of their vehicles.

“Taxi men are in a haste to get customers, so slowing down at those moments makes them feel like they are losing some money,” said Karl H., a driver.

Critically looking at most roads, one would see that the gap from one Zebra Crossing to the other is too long. For Olivier P., another road user, the Yaounde City Council still has much work to do. “They have to put a Zebra Crossing where it lacks, especially, closer to most roundabouts,” he reiterated.

When road users do not abide to the norms of the Zebra Crossing, the outcome is accidents. “When a car hits a pedestrian on the Zebra Crossing, and he incurs serious injury or dies, it is known as voluntary homicide. But when the person is not seriously injured, it is called a corporal accident.

The act is however punishable by the law,” said a Senior Inspector of Police of the Nkolndongo Police Station, Alphonse Biyong. For him, this phenomenon can only be controlled and why not stopped by the forces of law and order, if people are sensitised on the importance of the Zebra Crossing.