Once, twice or numerous times, everyone has faced this problem and our readers post some solutions. But will it ever be taken into consideration and worked on is a different matter. Yet one thing is certain — one needs to be safe on the road When I was driving with my father from Makwanpur to Kathmandu a few weeks ago, it was raining heavily. There were no street lights and the road was devastating. As the road was narrow we decided to turn on the headlights and continue our journey, but there was dense fog ahead of us and the use of headlights would make our journey more dangerous. So, we stopped for an hour but no luck, the weather did not change and we were compelled to spend the night in the vehicle. We were in Kakani at that time. It rained the whole night and there was no house nearby. It is one of the most unforgettable moments of my life.

— Anonymous

One should be more pragmatic. If I am on the road at night, I would stop by the side of the road till the downpour or street light problem comes to an end. After all, blind driving is never a wise thing. Who dares take such a dreadful risk? So everyone should be rational and sensible valuing life. Staying safe and being able to breathe a bliss.

— Manish Paudel, Katari-10, Udaypur

Yes, I have suffered such problems especially in Birgunj. Many idiots drive cars or ride bikes haphazardly. This type of blind driving can lead to accidents. Blind driving can be controlled by creating awareness programmes and raising voice about its effects. The culprits should be punished severely too. The main medium to control this blind driving is by providing education about on its dangers.

— Ankur Karn, Birgunj

A few days back while I was driving back home it was almost six in the evening. When I reached Dhapasi, the way was darker and wet due to rain. The pavement seemed to melt away into the shadows as there were no street lights. I couldn’t see anything. I was driving at a relatively high speed. Luckily, there was no other vehicle ahead of me and none behind. I hit hard on the brakes and came to a stop disoriented. My eyes began to adjust to the dark. I was frightened. It was simply my first realisation that driving on a rainy and dark night I need to reduce my speed and intensify my driving alertness. From that day onwards, I have recognised my limited abilities to see the road when it is dark and wet. What you should do is keep both your hands on the steering wheel, turn on your headlights, keep enough distance from the car in front and use the windshield wiper.

— Aayush Paudel

Driving or riding at night is a difficult task. Even with street lights and without rain, it is difficult. To be honest, I have faced lots of problems while driving at night in such situation. And without street lights and while it is raining, it becomes all the more difficult. The main problem however is the road itself, unplanned settlements near the roads, weak bridge et cetera. I think the solution is to widen the roads first, fix the street lights, and establish a planned settlement. There should be zebra crossings for the pedestrians.

— Anonymous

I have become a victim several times, it’s more difficult and dangerous to walk on the streets at night. We need to be alert after seeing vehicle coming from far because of the narrow roads. Heavy pressure of increasing vehicles, unmanaged and improper drainage problem have created a mess for the pedestrians. Degraded roads, pot holes have worsened the matter. It is better to be safe than meet with an accident. Strict traffic rules for everyone, alternative pavement for pedestrians, installation of more street lights, maintenance and constructing canals for proper flow of water.

— Pawan Ram Lamichhane

Driving at night is really problematic. It is true that there are no street lights. During rainy season the condition worsens. I happen to remember an incident that I witnessed a week ago. It had been almost dark when I was on my way back home from the market. It was drizzling. People seemed to be in a great haste to reach their destination. All of a sudden, a biker ended up hitting one of the cyclists while he was crossing the road. The police came immediately and the injured was taken to the hospital. But the biker had already fled. This is one of the instances but such incidents happen on a daily basis all across the country. In our context, it is a mere dream to hope for lights along the streets. Despite all these problems, one should not lose the sense of safety, take precautions even if it is for short distance. For safe driving, physical facilities are secondary, the primary is to be alert.

— Lok Raj Joshi, Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur

I once almost crashed into a road divider in Kuleshwor. There were no luminescent stickers on it and the street lights were merely a showpiece (or it might have been the time of load-shedding). A car coming from the opposite direction had its headlights on high beam. I was blinded. Thankfully, I had control of my speed and could avert the collision. Of course, the best way to mitigate such accidents is to provide adequate street lights and improve the condition of roads. But since they seem like a far cry in the context of our country, it’s upto us to stay safe. Over speeding and not following traffic rules are suicidal. High beam is equally fatal. Not only drivers, the pedestrians should also be more aware while walking or crossing the road at night. Putting bright warning signs on the dividers and roadsides can be extremely useful too. Whatever the measure, the bottom line however is being cautious. We should start with ourselves to build a safer road.

— Prakshit Raj Shakya, New Road, Kathmandu

Yes, driving at night and without street lights is a big challenge as well as risky. A year ago my uncle and I were travelling to my maternal uncle’s home. It was raining heavily. It was around 10:00 pm and there were no street lights. Suddenly a truck came from the opposite direction towards us and we got scared and my uncle turned his bike, which collided with a tree. So the government has to manage street lights at every highway, mainly in Hetaunda.

— Shivang Dutta, Janakpur-11, Dhanusha

It is a great problem — riding at night is a Herculean task. During rainy season the road becomes slippery to even cross. The deposition of water on road due to improper pitching is also one of the major problems. It invites a lot of accidents. Yet, I have not faced such problem but have heard lots of news regarding this. The major solution is to manage drainage. The street light should be fixed in every part of the road. People should use zebra crossings. The construction of flyoevers can be considered as one of the better solutions to be safe.

— Rajan Yadav, Kachorwa, Bara

I have eight years experience of riding a bike and when it comes to night riding, my wariness increases tenfold. The culprit is certainly the inadequacy of street lights, but not all. The major vulnerability is due to light from opposite traffic, which directly strikes our eyes and makes us go completely blind. One night, a car came from the opposite direction and I was about to hit a person who was crossing the road because of blindness due to the light from the car. And there are many cases of almost hitting cats and dogs during night. I think besides providing sufficient street lights, there should be opaque material on the median strip so that light from opposite traffic cannot affect the eye. Also, at zebra crossings, translucent material should be used and at last always drive slow at night.

— Ishwar Joshi

We have to trust our instincts while crossing the roads at night. A few days ago I was returning from Omshanti Chowk, Shantinagar. It was nearly 8:00 pm and raining. While I was crossing the road at Shantinagar gate, a motorbike nearly hit me. I was scared but safe. For some time I was very angry at that driver. I went to my room feeling outraged. The main solution to this problem is to manage the drainage system by the side of the roads so that water is not collected on the roads. Similarly, the traffic police must serve their duty on the road during night also. And people should use zebra crossings while crossing roads.

— Ravikant Yadav, Majhariya-06, Bara

Last month I was on the way to Tinchuli. The road was muddy because of the pipeline work. I was on a scooter and the locality was dark because of load-shedding. It was difficult to drive on the muddy road and as I moved further I fell. I felt so embarrassed. I was dirty like I had from paddy planting. Local people gathered to help me. I stood and started my journey home. After reaching home I felt ‘why can’t the government maintain the roads’. If the condition of roads is bad they can put ‘NO ENTRY’ sign or put enough street lights so that the pedestrian or driver can feel safe.

— Prakash Tamang, Jorpati, Kathmandu

I’m just 18 and I do not have a driving licence. But I know that driving at night is tough and scary especially if it is raining as there are no street lights. In such time, it is more difficult to see other vehicles, pedestrians, road signs and the road itself. It is critical to make sure you can see and be seen. It becomes very important to ensure safety. So, I think these precautions can really help for such blind driving — •    Slow driving is a must •    Staying towards the middle lanes is helpful, water tends to pool in the outside lanes •    Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles •    Avoid using brakes, if possible •    Turn on the headlights, but not high beam •    Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night wet roads become especially treacherous

— Shubham Agrawal, Kolkata, India

Yes, I agree with the fact that driving or riding at night is a troublesome task. I still remember that day when I was returning home with my father on a motorbike. We were passing a muddy place. The place was very slippery. There were no street lights to guide us. We lost our balance and crashed into a car. Fortunately the driver didn’t complain to the police but only charged fine. Still there are solutions to ‘blind’ driving. First of all, I suppose, it is the negligence of the government. It is the duty of the government to construct good roads and street lights. Drivers should not exceed the speed limit. Pedestrians as well as drivers need to be careful. Carelessness may lead to horrible consequences.

— Sanskriti Giri

Yes, I agree driving or riding at night is a Herculean task. Actually driving is risky at night generally in this rainy season and the culprit is — lack of street lights. People should be safe on the roads but it’s a problem for drivers as they have to trust their instincts. In my opinion, the effective remedy for this blind driving is placing street lights on the roads. Generally, the vehicles’ light cannot focus far so seeing people all of a sudden is natural, which can lead to an accident. So if there are street lights, then we can see the roads clearly, thus solving the problem. On the other hand, pedestrians also should be little bit more careful when crossing the roads.

— Cmon Thapa

Monsoon has just begun in Kathmandu Valley. Now, the dusty Kathmandu streets have turned into muddy ones. With the onset of monsoon, pedestrians, drivers and riders are facing a great challenge on the streets. At night the situation gets worse if rain is accompanied by no street lights. I remember when I was on my bike on the Balaju-Kalanki road on a rainy night, one drunk man suddenly appeared from nowhere in the middle of the road. I pressed the brakes so hard that my bike skidded and I ended with injuries. This can happen to anyone if the problem of ‘Dark Street’ isn’t solved immediately. Talking about the solution, efforts should be made from both government and individual levels. From individual’s side, riders must pay attention while riding and shouldn’t over speed. Pedestrians should walk on the footpaths. Ultimately the government should place street lights on roads like we have in Baneshwor-Maitighar road to minimise accidents.

— Anonymous

Being fearful will not make things better. We have to trust our instincts. The world is full of bad and good people. I don’t know how to drive, but I have been in a long ride and have faced such a situation. A few decades ago I visited Pokhara with my dad along with my cousins. It was a tiring ride, so we went straight to bed as soon as we reached. This short trip ended within three days and we are on our way home. At sharp eight there was a sudden downpour which made the vision vague, thus the driver was having a hard time trying to figure out the way ahead. A flash of lighting made us lose our judgement. Even a slightest mistake would have ended our lives. In such a situation, having complete faith in God can also help as we did during the earthquake.

— Pratibha Bhandari

Night driving is tough and challenging because of poor visual perception, fatigue, alcoholism, poor pavement management. Also, incessant rainfall has exacerbated the problem. These have created discomfort among drivers, consequently accidents is inevitable. The rate of accidents will escalate if people are unaware about the situation. In the context of Nepal, night driving is even more dangerous and arduous due to the absence of street lights, poor construction of pavements, improper management and lack of self-awareness. There is no proper light system, a driver has to depend on their own vehicle light. When I ride back home from office, it’s very hard for me to ride at night. During monsoon, it is difficult for me to identify nearby objects. Due to poor drainage system, the road is filled with water, which also covers potholes and uneven surfaces. If you are driving at a new place then you should be careful. I have experienced and seen many casualties such as collision with stones, and falling into a manhole. In order to mitigate the problem, first, the driver and pedestrian must be aware. Provision of lecture classes on traffic rules and regulations should be conducted by the authority. There should be street lights, useful traffic signals, good construction technique of roads should also be adopted along with prohibiting over speeding.

— Anonymous

Once our car nearly hit a pedestrian as it was terribly dark that night. A lot of such cases are reported and the way to the Trishuli River is the trending headlines in monsoons. Lack of proper lights puts many lives in danger. The government should take this into consideration. I can understand the difficulty of establishing a proper facility of such roads in hills but putting up street lights may work for the best.

— Anonymous

He said it was already dark and the road was wet, so we’ve got to be careful. He had only finished speaking when I went inside the road-side drain. Well, our bike skidded. This implies that driving at night sans street lights is a Herculean task. Rain makes it worse. The measures likely to be taken are not using high beam headlights, when a car is coming towards you keep your eyes as far to the left as possible, which prevents the dazzling effect, look at road markings for clues about where to go, if in doubt slow down, it gives you enough time to react.

— Anonymous

QUESTION OF THE WEEK Teachers impart knowledge. But their roles go beyond teaching — they inspire and motivate students. This is one of their greatest responsibilities, but it has become an alternative career choice. With a lot at stake, should any random person be allowed to be a teacher in schools or colleges? What is you view on this? Illustrate. Send your replies in not more than 200 words by Friday, August14 by 2:00 pm to Features, The Himalayan Times, e-mail: features@thehimalayantimes.com