Many people argue that giving much stricter punishments for driving offenses is the only way to ameliorate safety on our roads. Personally, I wholeheartedly disagree with this view.
The positive impacts that this policy brings can not be denied when the rate of driving offenses significantly reduces, however, it still has limits. This policy is really effective under police supervision combined with cameras because participants in traffic are afraid of being punished, not because they respect the laws. In fact, in the vicinity of rural areas and non-camera areas, the percentage of diving offenses has not outstandingly changed because of people’s disregard for the laws when they are not monitored. Furthermore, stricter punishments gain more and more worry for drivers, which makes them do everything possible to avoid being punished. For example, in Vietnam, there was a driver who refused to give way to an emergency vehicle at a red light because he did not want to be punished.
Apart from the practical disadvantages expressed above, I strongly believe that heavy punishments for drivers who violate the law can not solve the root problem and it is not the only way. It is an indisputable fact that improving the thinking of traffic participants should be given top priority such as teaching children more about traffic safety, and propagating more about route laws. Not only that, adults should set an example for children when participating in traffic properly. Moreover, signs need to be made clearer to avoid misunderstandings like place signs and traffic lights in more visible locations.
In conclusion, for the reasons I have mentioned above, I claim that it is crucial to ameliorate people’s perspectives to solve the roots of the problem.