Don't Play In Traffic

Don’t Play In Traffic

Any needless death is a tragedy. As a society we are prone to devising methods to protect citizens from overt dangers, and often tax dollars must be spent to create a safer environment. However, using “government resources” to teach common sense is over the top!

Hispanics suffer high rates of pedestrian deaths, particularly in the South where traffic patterns are developed around motorized vehicles. A majority of non-white Hispanics do not drive, and we are told that immigration issues stand in the way. Things like inability to get a drivers license and poverty are listed. Jerry Gonzales, spokesman for the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, says it is more a socio-economic issue and lack of planning. UGA demographer Stephanie Bohan says they end up walking in the road, knowingly taking risks, because government has given no other options. In Mexico and other countries of origin, communities are not built around traffic patterns. So, immigrants are not fully aware of our rules of the road.

A CDC study in the late 1990s found metro-Atlanta fatality rates for Hispanics was almost six times higher than for non-Hispanics. Critics blame poor urban planning. Southern planners focus on resolving traffic congestion and growth issues. Northern cities are better designed for pedestrians. Crosswalks, pedestrian bridges and adequate lighting are lacking in our suburbs. Counties do not invest in things like that – they are being too cheap toward pedestrians.

Advocacy groups distribute Spanish language brochures, posters and public service announcements. There is even a Spanish supplement to the Georgia driver’s license manual. And the state DOT officials agree that something more must be done.

Now, just hold on here! I have visited foreign countries and learned that customs in language, hand gestures, and even traffic are different than the good old USA. As a visitor I had to adjust because the governments in Brittain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand simply do not waste tax dollars to “educate” foreigners about playing in traffic. And I am sure the local taxpayers would not be pleased with such wasteful expenses. If you choose to live in a new country you must learn the language, customs and some basic rules of society. If you dislike the people, language, food and customs please just stay home!

Georgia is among the hottest US locations for legal and illegal immigration largely because we do nothing to enforce immigration laws. We are told the state legislature will address this problem in the 2006 session. Regardless of new laws or enforcement of old ones, there are many people here asking real Americans to pay their way. They cannot speak English - our dominant language. They do not educate themselves to American culture. The illegals do not pay taxes. Yet the rest of us are expected to provide free medical care, free education, jobs – and a redesign of public transportation to accommodate them.

The bleeding heart liberals are too anxious to spend untold millions. All we really need is a program of personal responsibility and a simple lesson: do not play in the traffic.