Unruly cyclists

IN the June 24 Shenzhen Daily there was a report about police disclosing three deadly traffic accidents caused by dump trucks. Although the drivers of the dump trucks may have been at fault as well as the companies that own the not well-maintained trucks, I also read that the killed cyclists were not adhering to the traffic rules.

Driving my car on the Shenzhen roads I daily have to make rapid moves to avoid cyclists and pedestrians alike that are far too busy looking at their mobiles while on the road. They disregard red lights, drive at the wrong side of the road and walk in the middle of the road.

It is about time that we start educating people about traffic rules on a daily basis. Start with that in kindergarten or primary school and start enforcing the traffic rules for pedestrians and cyclists as well. They are the most vulnerable road users but quite often also the most reckless.

As far as maintenance is concerned I would suggest authorities have a basic check at every tollgate where cars enter Shenzhen and have the trucks undergo a quick basic check. One indicator about bad maintenance is the tires. Many trucks and buses are driving on “slicks” where there is hardly any tread left on the tire. Those vehicles should be immediately stopped and banned from the road until they are fixed. Maybe a tire sales shop near those tollgates can do good business and it would be a tremendous boost not only for safety but to the local economy as well.

Jeffry Kuperus via email