So at the moment I’m doing
an assignment for my course on Sociology of News Production. The assignment
requires that I attempt to be a citizen journalist. That is, write my own
article and aim to get it published by some media outlet. I have submitted my
article to the Roodepoort Record, but
I thought I’d go the extra mile and post it on an online platform as well.
Please feel free to comment below and let me know what you think of my article
as well as any of your own views about the situation.
Thank You!
Danger: Ouklip Road
In recent months, Ouklip
road has claimed more lives than it should. Or rather, has reckless and drunk
driving claimed too many lives circumstantially in the same location? After
reading of the first fatal accident on 30 June involving two young men in their
20s, I was left with a heavy heart. Why should anyone have to pass in such a
way? However, tragedy struck again when another car ploughed into a tree not
far from the first accident on 2 August.
Such incidents should
bring road safety to anyone's mind and not only those who should be doing something
about it, such as the JMPD or the Roads Agency. Despite countless attempts and
campaigning against driving under the influence, many individuals continue to
take chances. We go to great lengths to protect ourselves, but fail to think of
protecting others. It would be careless and selfish of me to get behind the
wheel with any alcohol in my system, never mind being under the legal limit. By
doing such a thing I put my own life and my passenger's lives in danger, not to
mention other individuals on the road. I choose to avoid driving late at night
when such instances often occur for my own safety. Which relates directly to
the point I'm trying to make. Why should the innocent individuals of society
have to fear being on the roads because of other people's careless and reckless
choices? We should be living in a society where we take responsibility for
ourselves and show our neighbors the respect they deserve. We can do this by
choosing not to drive under the influence, or exceed speed limits especially at
night and on smaller roads.
The incidents of Ouklip
road should be a wake-up call for society. It should be encouraging each
individual to take responsibility for themselves and to respect others.
Choosing to pay a taxi or designated driver service to take you home instead of
driving drunk is one simple way anyone can make a difference. When it comes to
the officials such as the JMPD, regular road blocks at night, especially on
weekends near entertainment venues and on dangerous roads, like Ouklip should
be a permanent fixture to curb the problem of drunk driving. The more
consequences that action has, the greater change we will see in individual
behaviour. Making our neighbourhoods and roads a safer place for
everyone.
Yours in Education and
Journalism,
<3 Nicole_Kayley
