Pedestrian rights
Cities in developed countries do not let cars have right of way over pedestrians. But in Hong Kong this is not the case - cars have the right of way over pedestrians.
This is despite the high numbers of pedestrians and relatively low numbers of cars. For instance, drivers feel that it is their right to make a right or left turn against pedestrians making legal crossings at intersections. Also, when cars are crossing a footpath from the road to private property, drivers expect pedestrians to yield.
In three years I have seen no less than four injuries to pedestrians in front of my workplace at Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay, all a result of drivers refusing to yield.
From my research, pedestrians have legal right of way over cars in all situations. The general acceptance, then, of this anti-social behaviour must stem from a societal lack of confidence in advancing quality-of-life issues, and a continued belief by many in the righteousness of power. These have no place in a modern, egalitarian society. How many more people need to be run over before we admit there is a problem?
FRED THOMPSON, Causeway Bay
Air security
