"Look out, Irene! Don't dash across the road. Let's use
the overhead bridge."
"Aiyah, it's so troublesome. The traffic is quite
light now. Can't we just make a dash for it?"
"Huh! That's what you think. Look, there's a car just
rounding the corner. You won't be talking to us now if
you had just simply dashed across," retorted Suzanna.
"Do you know that according to statistics collected by
the World Health Organisation, half a million people in
the world are killed in road accidents each year? The
injured accounted for some fifteen million people, a
great number paralysed for life. The report stated that
most of these victims were young men, women and children
who should be contributing to the building of the
nations."
"Oh! Yes. I read that article in the papers too. It
appears that traffic accidents may soon be the world's
third leading cause of death after heart disease and
strokes," added Jasmine, holding her brother's hand
tightly as they climbed the bridge.
"I think most of the traffic accidents that occur are
caused by careless and inconsiderate drivers who refuse
to give way to others. The other day, I witnessed an
accident involving a motor-cyclist and a taxi-driver.
The taxi had the right of way but the motor-cyclist
swerved into its path and was hit. I don't know how
badly he was injured but I saw him being flung off his
motor-cycle. He would be lucky to be alive."
"You know, Suzanna, all this talk about road
accidents is really scary. Shall we change to another
topic, please?" Irene interrupted.
"Well, it was for you that we started this in the
first place - Lazy pedestrians who not only endanger
their lives but others as well."
"I agree with that wholeheartedly," said Jasmine.
"Me, too," her brother added gleefully. |