This where I sound like a grumpy old man, moaning about how the world today has changed for the worse. The supposedly inevitable time when a man’s broad mind and narrow waist change places. But I’m going to say it anyway.
I’m not a native Londoner, my formative years were in Royston and Brightlingsea, very different to Newham where I have lived for the last 25 years – maybe that is the difference. People, young and old, around here cross the road without looking.
No wonder the young people don’t care as parents step off the curb without checking either way. After a while you realise that you have to be aware of everyone on the pavement as well as the cars. If people are that stupid Darwinism suggests that rather than trying to save them we should eliminate them from the gene pool. I am not advocating Death Race 2000 here, but pedestrians do have responsibility when they walk across roads.
When I was 5 we had a lovely afternoon where some people came in and introduced us to the Tufty Club. Two hours on road safety but they made it fun. I loved the Tufty club, we had badges and puzzle books – it was great.
Later there was the Green Cross Code with Dave (Darth Vader) Prowse as the eponymous hero Green Cross Code Man.
It almost makes me want to see Jaywalking introduced as a crime. How mad are people who push prams/ push chairs out into busy traffic in front of them? Daring drivers to avoid a tiny child.
While I am on the subject I know that cycling is green and healthy. However I have seen so many accidents caused by cyclists who think that red lights do not apply to them or that when they see a red light they should just jump on a pavement and keep going. I saw one guy do this and knock over a schoolchild. He just got up and rode off.
If cyclists are to use the roads surely they should be required to wear appropriate safety gear and have insurance and a means of identifying them? I know my brother, who rides a lot, has proper insurance. It is not serious cyclists like him I am talking about, it is the ones who hit pedestrians and believe the laws of the road do not apply. London is not a good city for cyclists and it should be, but part of that is proper following of the rules.
As for people who ride electric scooters on the pavements… well there is a special corner of hell for them.
It burns me as a few years ago I was caught speeding. It was on the A13 near Dagenham where there is a 50mph average limit. I accelerated before the change to a 70mph limit and either had to pay a £60 fine or £97 to go on a speed awareness course and not get points. I opted for the latter. What was really interesting was on this AA course was that it showed that majority of accidents are caused by cyclists, pedestrians and lorries, however speed cameras can’t measure that, so they lecture and prosecute speeders. I’m not advocating speeding, but I don’t want to see dead children and most urban accidents are caused by children not using roads properly.
So why isn’t more emphasis put on this in school? Road safety is incredibly important, though the classes in London need to be attended by parents too as they are setting bad examples.
REO Speedwagon were an American soft rock band who were popular early in the 1980s. Really soft rock, but now I can admit my love of them.
Take It On the Run
Five Miles Out 