Recent years have witnessed a worsening trend in road safety.According to statistics fromthe local authority, the number of trafficaccidents in 2004 was 20% greater than that of theprevious year. The issue isgaining more and more concern of the public, some of whompropose that stricterpunishment on traffic offenders should be the only way to ensure roadsafety.As far as I am concerned, I hold that punishment should not be only solution totheproblem.
There is certainly no denying that stricter penalties may to someextent bring down thenumber of accidents on motorways as a deterrent todriving offences. Besides, the governmentmay enjoy a greater revenue fromseverer fines, which can in turn be used to improve roadconditions.
However, we shall never overlook the other side of the coin:punishment has its downsides.Fines, as the most common penalty for drivingviolations, tend to instill in people themisconception that money can pay offtheir guilt and resolve the problem. As a result, we cansee many cases wherethe traffic offender commits the same or another mistake even afterhaving beenfined a lot. In spite of heavier punishment, road safety cannot be enhancedunlessdrivers are equipped with sufficient driving skills and knowledge.Recently there have emergedmany irresponsible driving schools that haveproduced a host of unqualified drivers,contributing to more traffic offences.Thus tight control on driving schools and the drivingtesting system is neededas well to improve road safety. Furthermore, advertisements andcampaignsconcerned should be launched to raise the public awareness. When people arefullyaware of the importance of abiding traffic rules, accidents may hopefullybe eliminated.
From the above discussion, it is clear that only stricter punishmentis not enough toenhance road safety. Instead, it should go hand in hand withcloser control on driving schoolsand the testing system as well as higherpublic awareness.