From Mark Harvey
The findings about Orthodox Jews as pedestrians will come as no surprise to anyone who has worked and lived in many countries outside western Europe and the US (22 January, p 16). Whether it is Allah who protects some, or a more fatalist understanding to be found in South Asia, the challenge of managing the interaction between pedestrians and vehicles is huge. But let this not be a one-sided argument that “pedestrians must behave more responsibly”. I interpret South Asian behaviour as a healthy disrespect for those who consider the car as god.
The Global Road Safety Partnership, set up by the World Bank, has a lot to offer in deeper understanding. Meanwhile, it is the poor and pedestrians that lose out in transport policy.
Kathmandu, Nepal
