Attention! If you are crossing the road. Do not try look to your right and left but try to look at the road dividers and then cross the road 
at least here in the industrial city. For most of these road dividers are being damaged by people to make intersections for short-cuts and convenient turns.

For pedestrians, crossing a road is a life-threatening hazard, as they have to escape the killer vehicles passing through these broken spaces between the road dividers.

Similarly, it is sheer luck if one happens to spot a well-marked zebra crossing in Kanpur. Moreover, traffic signals are of ornamental value, for everyone defies it. "I have hardly come across any zebra crossing here. Two-wheeler owners cross the road at any point and time. Sometimes, they squeeze in through narrow spaces to come on to the main road. "If at all you try to cross the road at any junction you are sure to be run over by motorists who seem to be always in a hurry," said Kavita, a school teacher. If money shortage explains the missing zebra crossings or signages, lack of awareness and intent among road-users and motorists has only added to the fatalities.

A senior administrative official said, "We have a severe fund crunch and hence cannot afford to paint and re-paint zebra-crossings. We need sponsors for road marking and to put up signages."

According to traffic department authorities, infrastructure deficiencies, lack of awareness and need for stricter check on traffic violation can help to improve road safety. "Encroachment along pavements, narrow walkways, callousness of motorists has resulted in pedestrians spilling on to the roads and haphazard road crossing habit. We need to sensitise people on the importance of following the rule," said SP, Traffic, RL Verma.

"By sensitising road-users, we can lessen accidents by 25 per cent. People must inculcate discipline and follow traffic rules all the time," he added. 

Source: The Times of India