Sunday, January 7, 2007

V's Discovery in DILI... traffic lights??!!

You may have noticed a sudden sprung of traffic lights all over DILI, though not operational as yet. Spent the last half an hour figuring out the reasons why, with my buddy from Turkey:

Possible reason No. 1: Busy traffic especially at traffic junction.
But we don't have crawling traffic like what we have in Bangkok, Jakarta or even in KL. OK, perhaps on some mid-afternoon where everyone is out for lunch, may be at a couple of locations. But then again what happen for the rest of the day? And who is going to obey the traffic lights late at night, when people stayed in-doors due to lack of street lights?

Possible reason No. 2: There's an increase in traffic accidents.
But where are the rest of the traffic signs? Or the lane markings between two lanes, no-stopping signs and speed limit signs? And the number of pot-holes in the middle of the road that went un-noticed, only after you went through it? Or that people just don't notice these signs and pot-holes due to lack of street lights?

Possible reason No. 3: Allow pedestrian to cross at road junctions.
But people jaywalk everywhere in the streets, despite some visible pedestrian crossing (you didn't notice that too?). Perhaps street lights will let people see where they are walking?

Possible reason No. 4: Too many roundabouts, therefore need traffic lights to control traffic at the roundabout. ??
Don't make sense right?

Possible reason No. 5: There is an increase in number of vehicles in DILI.
Really? I don't think so. Once you get those vehicles without registration plates out of the streets, the number will reduce significantly to less than half. And traffic accidents will decrease. Perhaps we need street lights to check if all the vehicles do have licence plate?

In summary, we wonder if you have ever seen a traffic light on a street without street lights?

So, we conclude that:
We need street lights, not traffic lights. And for that to happen, we need continuous supply of electricity. So when there are street lights, people are not afraid to go out, shops will be open, traffic will get busier... then maybe.... we can ask for traffic lights...

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