Jaywalking: An Easy Way towards Death
Death and injuries.
These two things are nothing new to the ears of the students of the Bulacan State University, being situated along the sidelines of McArthur highway,unquestioningly we're living at the edge of danger every single day.
Although we cannot put all the blame to the city government because somehow they are making ways to avoid the increasing traffic-related mishaps by utilizing traffic lights and pedestrian lanes and imposing rules for the pedestrians to follow.
So let's reflect for a while. A moment of silence and deep thinking and ask ourselves this question: Are there instances that I invite danger onto myself by not following these traffic rules?
Yes.
Let's be completely honest here and admit that we are all guilty of jaywalking. Right!that's the term for y'know, crossing the streets when and where you are not supposed to. A little background for us, the term jaywalking actually covers a multitude of pedestrian infractions, mostly involving a failure to cross city streets at designated intersections or crosswalks.
The origin of the term jaywalking is said to coincide with the arrival of the "horseless carriage" around the turn of the 20th century. The word "jay" had several different connotations at the time, but the one which seemed to describe the dangerous practice best implied an unsophisticated rube. Crossing the street haphazardly or ignoring other pedestrian rules in a large city would be considered typical behavior for an uneducated "jay." Therefore, many early ordinances adopted this slang term to describe the violation itself. Even though the derisive slang term fell out of favor decades ago, the ill-advised practice of crossing a street between intersections is still called jaywalking. (Wisegeek.com)
Phew!A little history for you. But kidding aside, pedestrians specifically BulSU students have their own reasons or shall we say excuses for engaging to jay walking:
"Kapag nagmamadali, di na ako aware sa dinadaanan ko kasi nga late na ako kaya yun yung tendency." -Ynna Almazar, BSTM-2B
"Pag malayo yung tamang tawiran,umiiral yung katamaran.Shortcut.Para may excitement sa buhay."-Ma. Pamela Racelis, BSCE-2A
"Ah kasi kung magjajaywalk mas madali makakatawid kesa sa tumawid dun sa tamang daanan,tama ba?"-Angelo Paul Reyes, BSIT-2A
Why would we risk our lives to save up a little time from doing the right procedure of crossing the streets when our safety is the thing in line?Are we that fearless and senseless? This question keeps on bugging my mind when I heard the response of these students./sigh
Anyhow,reasons vary but they will probably end up on the same outcome: wounds, bruises, broken bones, injury and worst, death.
It takes guts and discipline to do the right thing, to follow the rules.Malaki ka na, alam mo na kung ano ang tama at mali, so please act your age and do what a responsible and educated person should do. Don't wait for the time when it's too late,when you are in a death bed, earning the downside of your actions (morbid but oh so possible...), when there's an apparition of my face telling you exasperatedly, "I told you so."