THE EDITOR, Sir:
IN ORDER to ensure that our youth do not enter the afterlife ahead of time, serious efforts should be made to bring more discipline to their daily routine, which for some involves ignoring basic road safety measures.
Driving home from work, I turn at the intersection of Winchester and Hope, and then again Hope and Waterloo. Motorists who follow the same course must share my concern and at times frustration with students who blindly ignore the bright red light in their face, and nonchalantly cross the street, oblivious to the danger to which they are exposing themselves as well as to the traffic jams they are causing.
What is wrong with these students? They cannot all be colour-blind. Haven't they learnt at home or at school that a red light means STOP? The answer is that they are indisciplined. Some no-nonsense measures need to be taken quickly to break this bad habit. Jay-walking fines, detentions after school, reports to be signed by parents, any of these easily performed tasks should be undertaken before a potential Spelling Bee champion gets run-over by an impatient or speeding driver. It's time to practise some tough love.
Consider: these same young pedestrians who are today ignoring traffic safety rules will get keys to a car someday and may well drive through a red light, force of habit. It's been known to happen.
I am, etc.,
LOUISE VALLE
Kingston 10
