Written by: Siphiwe Chris Mathebula
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Every country has laws. Laws are not made to deprive us of a good life, but to protect us. “No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.” – Theodore Roosevelt. Let me start by making a somewhat strange but true statement. It’s also substantiated in the Bible – “The law is good.”
A society with no laws is a chaotic society
The purpose of law is order; and the purpose of order is the creation of a secure society. A secure society results in a conducive environment for people to live normal lives, for businesses to thrive, and for investments to flow. Nobody wants to invest their resources where there is uncertainty and corruption.
Avoidable accidents
A barrier line on the shoulder of a road is not depriving you of a better life, it is for your safety. It is potentially protecting you from a blind spot on a curve or a stationary vehicle on the rise of the hill ahead of you. That law is there to protect you. Many of the accidents on our roads can be attributed to the way we drive. There are consequences when we break the law. So many people are dying on our roads each year because we are not good citizens.
South Africa has almost double the global average of road fatalities. What are we doing to reduce this sad state of affairs? We have a wrong culture that brags about speed. The World Health Organisation found that most accidents worldwide were caused by human factors, with an average of over 40 people per day being fatally injured, and at least 20 left permanently disabled.
Effects of our behaviour
If you witness a police officer who is not acting in accordance with the code of conduct, report them. With this code of conduct, we should see an end to bribery on road traffic policing. There is a need for visible policing. Where there is evidence of government taking positive steps to improve policing, let’s support their work.
As with so much in life, small changes can have a significant effect on outcome. A good citizen respects police and traffic officers, keeps within the speed limit, obeys traffic light signals, and they don’t park their vehicles anywhere on the road.
Illegal driving licences
What about the buying of driving licences? This practice puts all road users in immense danger as it means unknowingly sharing the road with incompetent drivers.
Parents shouldn’t drive with their children standing on car seats. This really irks me! Parents should make sure that their kids wear seat belts all the time. When parents instil this behaviour in their children, it usually becomes a habit. It is safe and best practice for children below the age of 13 not to occupy the front seat of a moving vehicle.
Be considerate
We should all consider the effect of our behaviour on others. This includes not smoking in public places, as well as treating public and private property with respect. This also extends to public transport. The government protects our fundamental rights and allows us to live freely. It is our duty as devoted citizens to follow the rules. Let’s inspire each other to do better.
The book is available on Amazon, Exclusive Books, Bargain Books, and Protea Books. Bulk orders can be made at info@hrm.org.za
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Date published: 13/03/2023
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork adapted from unsplash.com
SIPHIWE CHRISTOPHER MATHEBULA – Lead Pastor: Hope Restoration Ministries. Visit hrm.org.za
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