News
Our vanishing zebra-crossings
View(s):In December, 2016, the Road Development Authority (RDA) commenced an ambitious programme to change the colour of all zebra-crossings country-wide from yellow to white.
Story and pix by Indika Handuwala.
The project was scheduled to commence in Colombo and later move to other areas. Over a year later, the project has ended up another abysmal failure.
What’s worse, is that the yellow colouring on many of the existing zebra-crossings in the city have faded, putting the lives of pedestrians in danger on a daily basis.
In some places, the markings indicating a pedestrian crossing have faded. Making the situation worse is that in other places including in front of certain schools, the colour of the zebra-crossing has been completely obliterated.
However, pedestrians continue using the ‘crossings’, but are in danger of being run-over by motorists who fail to spot the zebra-crossings.
Large numbers of fatal accidents occur on our roads daily. Aren’t the authorities in fact contributing to more deaths on our roads through their negligence?
There is nothing to indicate a zebra-crossing on the road in front of this school, but the authorities do not seem to care
On week days Cambridge Place and Nawam Mawatha (above and below) carry heavy loads of traffic, the faded colour indicating a pedestrian crossing makes it difficult for drivers to recognize them for what they are.
The fading colour indicating a zebra-crossing at Francis Place puts both drivers and pedestrians in danger
The crossing at Kollupitiya has the heaviest flow of traffic. Unfortunately all indications that it is a pedestrian crossing are fast fading
Many pedestrians use this crossing at Norris Canal Road because of its proximity to the National Hospital. Sadly the zebra-crossing is obliterated