Why are people so determined to break road laws?

Madam – Can anyone tell me why there is an ever increasing number of motorists blatantly determined to break as many road traffic rules as possible?

This is undoubtedly happening in our town and is a matter of concern, seeing that it continues unabated. Have you lately noticed the increase of unruly motorists ‘jumping’ robots and ignoring stop signs?

Well if you have not you either have the luxury of a chauffeur or you need to visit your optometrist – alternately, you may well be one of the guilty motorists. Intersections are becoming a proverbial ‘dice with death’ and have to be treated with extreme caution irrespective of right of way.

I list below only several applicable concerns that come to mind.

1. Robots: The orange or caution light used to mean ‘go like hell’ but this has now changed to ‘put foot’ when orange changes to red – with split seconds of time to beat the right of way motorist.

2. Stop signs: These now appear to be largely ignored or simply treated as caution.

3. Parking/stopping: Double parking is the order of the day and it seems you can park or stop wherever you wish and anytime you wish.

4. Hazard lights: Judging by the now common use of these emergency lights, they now appear to have become a licence to stop or park anywhere you want to.

5. Headlights: These are there to see AND to be seen. There are laws regarding the ‘to be seen’ part of it and the law applicable to lights on in inclement, dusky, murky or overcast weather is blatantly ignored by many motorists.

6. Cyclists: I understand that a law now exists making is obligatory for all cyclists to wear the correct head protection gear but it is clear this law is being ignored by many cyclists.

The above list of concerns can go on and on but the point to be stressed is the fact that laws are being ignored and broken – why is this?

Simply put it is because offenders are allowed to get away with it and this situation will continue to escalate unless something is done about it, bearing in mind the way people think – if he can do it why can’t I?

Now the question arises – who is to blame – the offenders or the ‘defenders’?

Well, obviously firstly the offenders and simply because they get away with it due to poor or inadequate defence – this would then point fingers at both parties. Right or wrong?

We are all aware that our defenders, the traffic authorities, cannot be ‘everywhere at all times’ therefore they obviously need assistance by way of more personnel (more eyes) or the most obvious, i.e. ever present cameras which should, if efficiently and strictly managed, pay for themselves in no time at all – again right or wrong?

We have had enough talk of introducing these cameras. We need action.

Reg of verkeerd