Long way to go before safety is spoken widely

There is a meaningful phrase, “Safety is the language spoken here”, displayed at a worksite. Is safety a part of us, though, and do we speak and practise safety as naturally as we breathe?

The recent arrest of motorists for drink-driving is a disappointment; they disregarded their safety and that of their passengers and fellow road users, despite constant reminders of the danger of drink-driving. (“11 motorists arrested for drink-driving”; Jan 25, online)

It is also common to see students and adults glued to their smartphones while crossing busy roads or taking an escalator at shopping centres and train stations. They know that this behaviour puts them in some danger, yet still believe that it is reasonably safe.

And dashing across the road, despite a signalised junction only a stone’s throw away, shows how some pedestrians are willing to compromise their safety for convenience. We have a long way to go before we speak and practise safety widely.