CITIZENS MAIL
A new kind of hazard has been brought onto the roads, the xenon
lights. The advertisement says this is 300 times brighter than the
normal head lights and indeed they are!
While they may give greater visibility to the driver of the vehicle
having these lights, what they do not realize is the fact that it may
almost blind some other drivers, causing havoc on the roads.
There are no regular checkups needed in this country to continue to
possess a driving license. Once someone gets the license no one is
checked for eyesight again. Many develop early cataract by 40 years and
this does not affect day time vision and even if tested they will have
6/6 vision with or without glasses, as the case may be and therefore
will pass the driving license test. But when bright light is flashed
onto their eyes the pupils constrict and momentarily blind them. This
can have serious effect on someone's driving.
This can make them suddenly brake or even swerve leading to
accidents.
This can happen even with ordinary head lights if the lights are not
dipped.
Specially at intersections many keep their head lights full on,
blinding the oncoming motorists.
Even the traffic policemen do not realize the danger of this
situation. It is high time the policemen and drivers are educated on the
importance of using proper head lights and the need to dip the lights
when there is an on coming vehicle in front.
Dr Mareena Thaha Reffai
Dehiwela
As grandparents, we are much relieved with the initiative taken by
Education and Health and Nutrition Ministries to introduce standard
school bags for the approximately 4.2 million schoolchildren.
Our children did not suffer like the present generation, but their
children risk developing spine deformities and other body injuries.
Our six year-old granddaughter in primary grade attends a private
school which lately introduced bags with the school crest. The parents
are compelled to buy them for conformity. One day when collecting her
from school, she toppled backwards under the bag's weight, but myself
and an attendant staffer caught her before she fell in the driveway. At
this tender age, she does not need to carry such a weighty bag, for the
few books they use. Children are not careful when carrying school bags
unless teachers ensure they wear them properly before leaving school.
Yet another task for overworked staff!
As health and safety conscious grandparents, we want to purchase the
new bag. We hope that the private school heads are also aware of the
need for standards of conformity for school bags for long-term use.
Faith J Ratnayake
According to a news item, it was reported that a rocket lit to
celebrate the dawn of New Year had caused the fire that damaged
properties worth Rs five million at Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.
It was also reported in the media that people with injuries caused by
firecrackers apart from various other reasons get admitted to the
Accident Service of the National Hospital during X'mas time and New
Year, according to Dr Pushpa Ramyani Soyza, senior nurse attached to
this hospital.
I wonder whether we should light firecrackers to celebrate X'mas, New
Year and other functions when it is landing us in hospital and causing
colossal damage to property as well. What about the waste of hard earned
money, noise pollution and environment pollution it causes? How about
diverting this money towards worthwhile and meritorious causes such as
orphanages, elders homes, etc.
Mohamed Zahran
Colombo 2
I was relieved to read the constructive suggestions made by Lal
Keerthi Fernando in the Daily News.
Fernando has indicated measures how best the traffic could be well
managed either on the existing properly designed or outdated highways.
However, none of such measures would be successful unless the
enforcement by the Police is impartial, stringent and clean.
One of the first dual carriageways in Sri Lanka (perhaps old as 50
years the period as stated by DIG Illangakoon) has ample road capacity
at most times only if it is strictly enforced to function as a four-six
lane highway, not just as a two lane road, due to lack of lane
discipline and lack of proper use of bus-bays etc.
Furthermore, sometimes traffic light signals well designed by traffic
and electronic engineers, are being overruled by conflicting signals
given by the Police officers at intersections. If there is a collision,
which signal is legally valid, the Police officer's or the traffic light
signals?
Most traffic signals have a switch which can be used to put the
lights 'Off and on', when necessary.
Permitting the Police officer to give the signals as necessary,
without conflict and confusion to the road users.
As another serious matter of confusion, should not the Police refrain
from sudden, unplanned, ad hoc changes in traffic directional flow,
without proper notice and also sign postings.
Finally, are the roads only for the motorists, what about the
pedestrians on 'Crossings' where the yellow markings have faded away or
are poorly lit, together with little or no regard for those on
'Pedestrian Crossings'?
Sarath Fernando
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