By Zhu Yuan
BEIJING, July 19 -- Should a driver jumping a red light be reminded of the violation with bricks flung at the car? Definitely not. But when the bricks are hurled by people endangered by such violations, who is to blame?
An old chap in his 70s reportedly chucked bricks at as many as 30 passing motor vehicles that jumped red lights on a single night last week. The zebra crossing is located near a densely inhabited residential area in Lanzhou, capital of northwestern Gansu province. After a request from local residents, traffic lights were installed there a year ago. But many motorists have turned a blind eye to the red lights, posing a threat to whoever dares to use the crossing.
The old man has been nearly knocked down by defiant drivers on a number of occasions. His extreme reaction was not only joined by a couple of old fellows but has won praise from pedestrians. Now nary a driver whose cars were pummeled with bricks have stopped and reasoned with the old man, except one recent motorist. Angry looks from passers-by, however, shrunk the driver back into his car and he drove off without saying a word.
Drivers ignore red lights at the Lanzhou intersection because the violation doesn't cost them a thing. But when most drivers do not stop at red lights, it sends the wrong message to those who normally follow traffic laws and possibly encourages law abiders to defy red lights themselves. That is the awful result of lax enforcement.
Traffic police cannot shirk their responsibilities. Installing traffic lights and making them flash are not enough. Patrolling officers should have known the frequent defiance of red lights at the aforementioned crossing. Police officers should have been assigned there during busy hours to catch violators and punish them. Video cameras could also have been installed to keep a record of violators.
Had all these measures been taken, how could an old man in his 70s have been so enraged as to violently attack passing motorists jumping red lights?
What makes the matter more thought-provoking is that more than 70 percent of tens of thousands of respondents in a survey support what the old man has done. It is a shame to local traffic police.
It also suggests that violations of traffic rules are a general concern for many in the country and that the credibility of traffic police is in question.
Of course, extreme acts such as the old man's brick-tossing should never be encouraged. Local police eventually stopped the old man from inflicting his brand of medicine on traffic rule violators. But other people, if stuck in the old man's situation, would probably have done the same unless effective measures are adopted to stop motor vehicles from running red lights.
What worries me the most is that some may follow the old man's lead and take desperate measures whenever their issues cannot be solved through appropriate channels.
When the law does not work to protect the legitimate interest or right of local residents, people will resort to drastic means to protect their own right and interest. That is where chaos takes place. So it is important to make sure that everybody abides by laws and rules to the letter.
(Source: China Daily)
