Two men act as human traffic signals on October 26, 2015 at an intersection in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. [Wang Yongbo/China Daily]

Nearly 50 people have lost their lives in the past 11 years while crossing a road in Cangzhou, North China's Hebei province, due to the absence of traffic lights at some 20 crossroads. China Youth Daily commented on Tuesday:

Members of the local political advisory body have more than once proposed equipping the dangerous roads with more traffic lights, even speed bumps, however, none have been installed. The Cangzhou traffic administration authorities say they cannot install them, because the provincial transport bureau is yet to approve their application.

Local residents are right to blame the procedural red tape and the provincial transport officials for exhibiting a lack of respect for life.

While the installation of traffic lights on provincial roads is restricted according to the relevant traffic regulations, there are feasible alternatives, such as speed bumps and overpasses, that would guarantee the safety of pedestrians.

That the Cangzhou traffic administration officials have refrained from employing such alternatives, may constitute willful dereliction of duty. It is true that some pedestrians do not bother to abide by traffic rules, which to some extent exposes them to danger, but that does not absolve the officials of their responsibilities.

It was not until a year later that the Cangzhou authorities began to discuss the proposal made by members of the local political advisory body. As of now, they claim to have submitted an application to the provincial transport department, which has failed to say why it has not yet been approved. Such routine equivocation makes no sense and should be replaced with timely, straight responses.