Lack Of Common Sense On London's Roads

 It's a situation sadly we've become acclimatised to. You open the newspaper and read yet another tragic story of someone being killed on our roads. It's always heartbreaking to read these stories especially when it is children involved. But how many of you are like me and wonder "Was it their own fault?" 
Recently I've taken to watching the roads whilst I'm travelling and what I've seen time after time is a lack of common sense. As a child we had lessons in primary school on road safety and at Brownies we earned badges on road safety. So what exactly is going wrong in today's world? I'm not just talking about children either. Adults are just as bad. Surely it is every ones duty to set an example for our younger generations where road safety is concerned. 

Lorries:
Monsters of the road, as a child I was always terrified of them, especially if I was in a car and they were too close to the back. Something which still worries me. A majority of the road accidents I've seen recently have involved lorries. So what goes wrong? 
Lorries are crucial for carrying goods, cargo and everything else we depend on in modern life but how do these vehicles get involved in so many accidents? 
Most lorry drivers are considerate to the other road users from my findings I've found that it is rarely the lorry drivers fault and more likely to be an error of the other vehicle involved. That said I have seen a fair few speeding and on a few occasions have noticed some driving a little too close to the kerb for comfort. 

Cars: 
Usually it's car on car I've witnessed involved in accidents. On Monday whilst coming home from my voluntary job I was sitting on the bus and watching how the cars were being driven. What I saw in a short 40 minute ride was shocking. I counted four separate cars just pulling out into oncoming traffic with no indicators and no warning. I lost count of how many cars switched lanes or turned without indicating. Then you get the few that are swaying across the road (drunk or stoned I say) those flashy lights on either side are there for a reason, use them. This is why there are so many collisions. If you just indicate maybe the car that crashed into you wouldn't have hit your car. 

Pedestrians:
Yep another menace. Seriously what is with some people? Are they all just suicidal and fed up of living or are they just plain stupid. 
This last month I have seen 38 different people just step out in front of a bus to cross the road. Really? you fancy being hit by overtaking traffic do you? 
The crossings are another issue. Last week I was on Oxford Street and like always pushed the button for the crossing. Unlike most people I wait for the green man. Guess what? It means you can cross not that aliens will beam you up. 80% of the people at the crossing just walked out, without even looking for oncoming traffic. Quite a few were nearly hit by taxis. 

• Is it really worth the risk? 
• Is it going to kill you to wait an extra minute for the lights to change? 
• Are you in that much of a hurry your willing to risk your life? 
• Do you really need to catch that bus so bad that you run across a main road? 
• Are you being a responsible adult and setting a good example for children by walking out into the traffic. 
• Ensure that the traffic has stopped before crossing the road.