Driving around Addis, or even being driven around the city, is an exhilarating experience. The number of cars on the street, the fume and the honking make the experience a bit chaotic. In some areas the streets are so narrow and there are so many cars trying to fit in them that it gets so jam-packed that it literally looks like an overstuffed hot dog. And let’s not forget about those lines on the streets that no driver seems to notice. I am referring to those lines that are supposed to indicate the different lanes, which in turn determine the speed at which you drive and on which side of the street you can by-pass a car, among other things. I think it’s safe to say that lanes are mere suggestions and not a requirement.

But cars aren’t the only things on the street; there are sheep, donkeys, cows, dogs, cats, and people. So between dodging the herd, avoiding that pothole and the cars coming at you from 3 different directions, it takes some serious multi-tasking skills to be able to drive in this city. There is, of course, the occasional electricity blackout, meaning that the traffic lights won’t be working or there are some traffic lights that seem to be there for decorative purposes, as they have never worked, all of which highly contribute to the misdirection of traffic and add to the frustrating driving experience.

But drivers aren’t the only ones that have to maneuver their way through traffic; the same plight awaits pedestrians who are also trying to go to their respective destinations. The first problem faced by them is lack of pedestrian walk. Although there have been a lot pedestrian walkways built in the past few years, it only covers a few areas in the city. So pedestrians end up walking on the streets while pushing and shoving their backs with cars, not a fair fight!

But that’s not all: crossing the street is an art that has to be mastered through many practices, some scary, others funny. Which brings me to my point of discussion of the week: zebra-crossings.  In order to create some sort of order in traffic, decrease accidents and protect pedestrians the law on zebra-crossing is being implemented more strictly. If a car does not give priority to a pedestrian on a zebra crossing, then the driver will get a ticket. All of that is well, but the major issue seems to be how the zebra crossing prioritization is supposed to work.

I’ve been spending a lot of time in Mexico Square lately, and I have been observing the car + pedestrian + zebra crossing drama. The square is one of the most busy squares in Addis, if not the busiest. Pedestrians walk on the zebra-crossing with full confidence that they have the right to do so at any time, drivers are trying to get through traffic and don’t really want to stop and let pedestrians walk as there are too many of them. And so, the yelling and cursing between these two start.

My question is this: do pedestrians have a right to cross on a zebra-crossing at any time? Even when there is a green light? And shouldn’t the amount of time that a driver gives pedestrians a priority be limited? The first suggestion I wanted to come up with was to have a pedestrian walk traffic light, but the chances of that are quite low. So perhaps a stop sign at major zebra-crossing is necessary specifically directing drivers to let pedestrians go. Whatever the valid reasons for frustration among pedestrians and drivers, it is quite clear that we need a resolution!