I saw a few videos of traffic in Africa, and people were just walking across busy roads with no lights or crosswalks. Is that really how it is? Is there any system in place for pedestrians?
Honestly, yes. In many parts of Africa, what you saw in those videos is real. Traffic can be very chaotic. It’s not unusual to see people walking straight across busy roads with no traffic lights nor crosswalks. Of course most also don’t have pedestrian bridges.
That’s not to say that there’s no system at all. In some cities, especially in more developed areas, you’ll find proper sidewalks and working traffic lights. But the truth is that those are more the exception than the rule.
The reality here in Africa is that a lot of places weren’t designed with pedestrians in mind. The infrastructure just isn’t there thanks mainly to corruption at the highest levels of leadership. Roads are often built without proper planning and enforcement of traffic laws is weak.
Owing to all these things, people have learned to adjust. Crossing a road in some places is more about timing, instinct and to a significant degree experience than any official system.
It’s honestly not the best, but for millions of people across the continent, that’s just part of everyday life.
