An American road safety analyst with the unlikely moniker of Prof Poppleton argues that a law must be “respected” in order for it to work. In that context, what does “respect” mean? What increases it and what undermines it? Crispus
Respect usually suggests a degree of approval or admiration. But it can also mean due regard for the interests and feelings and wishes and rights of others.
I suspect the professor had both these in mind, and a third factor: Obedience.
The philosophy of that is sound, but the law also needs to consider the context of a breach and leave room for discretion – especially in a field like traffic law which involves so much complex and interactive movement between very different entities from one moment to the next.
What road users will respect is a law that they agree is necessary to general good order, adequate flow, safety and as a guide to good manners…if it is enforced rationally and fairly and equitably.
What they will not respect, and therefore more often disobey, is a law that does not achieve (or is not necessary to) those objectives, or is enforced (or ignored) irrationally or disproportionately.
Obedience to a 50kph speed limit is acceptable on a busy city street during a rush hour, but perhaps not when that street is completely deserted at dawn on a Sunday morning.
Obedience to solid yellow line is acceptable on a brow or a bend where the view ahead is severely limited, but not when it is painted where there is a clear view ahead of more than a kilometre and when you are travelling at ten times the speed of the vehicle you are overtaking.
What is plain to know is that all our traffic laws are much the same as the laws in any and every other country. What differs is the balance of respect between those who make (and mark) the roads and those who use them, and between those who enforce the laws and those who are expected to obey them.
Public opinion will not respect a system that focuses on easy-catch technical errors and ignores truly reckless or dangerous conduct.
Mutual respect would undoubtedly deliver he safest, surest, swiftest traffic system and conduct. What we need to find – within our own context and economic conditions – is that balance between providers, users and enforcers.
