Gentle assertiveness

It gives one pleasure and satisfaction, as a concerned individual, not to miss an opportunity that may have value-added significance in the great run of Ethiopia’s advancement.
About six months ago, I was riding with a friend in a car when he was stopped by a traffic police. The case started when attempting to park by the lower section of the Addis Ababa Transport Branch Office. My friend took a right turn and then a left to park. Suddenly, the space he had aimed for was taken by another rushing car that came from the direction of the Eastern Water & Sewerage Authority. In desperation, he turned sharply and took the main road to east or towards the ring-road. It was exactly at this time that my friend was stopped by a helmeted traffic constable. He asked him why he had to turn sharply, violating the sign which prevents sharp turns. The driver told him that in the first place there was a big truck in front of him which prevented him from noticing the no-turn sign. Secondly, he told him that the whole drama took its turn due to the second car that moved into the parking lot that he had aimed for and which compelled him to make the only decision that he was left with.
The constable was stern and was not ready to listen to the driver’s explanation. My friend told him that at his age he would not lie and that he had realized his fault and was ready to apologize. The traffic man said in continuation that what he heard about the big truck preventing the traffic sign was unacceptable and was a ‘lie which could be equated with saying that a lightening has fallen at a place where there were no clouds.” This time, the driver soberly but firmly asked to give him the ticket to pay the fine rather than to be humiliated in such a condescending manner. It was this time that the constable gave him back his driving license telling him to be careful in future. He drove away with thanks but with some reservation.
Six months after, to be exact on the 27th June’07, at 0800a.m. in the morning, that same friend was stopped at the traffic light which is in front of the Ministry of Justice of the Federal Government driving from Meskal Square when I happened to be again with him incidentally. There was no car at all in the road when he dropped a friend by Mekane Yessus Church Bldg. and shifted to the third lane from his extreme right toward the traffic light. I had warned him for that in advance. A traffic man was gently proceeding towards him from the far front. He never realized his motive as there was no hand sign he made, neither did I for that matter. As he was stopped by the red light, he approached him dignified and told him that it is punishable to shift from one extreme corner to another to which he agreed. This time he gently asked for his driving license and asked him to stop by the Jordan Hotel. As a passenger, I had my own reservations in my mind about the numerous and notorious minibus taxis that maneuver like sea-fish from one corner to the other any where in Addis to the point where they have become nuisances to the traffic people. The constable again gently asked the driver to take off the remaining tints from the back side of his car, as most of it was peeled off at the time of issuance of the title deed book upon the car’s arrival from abroad, according to the driver. The man got down and started to remove it as a gesture of obedience. As it was drizzling and rather uncomfortable for a non-technical person to manage it, he asked him if he could take it to a nearby garage to which the constable agreed.
The traffic police, as he stopped the driver in such grace and politeness saw him off in politeness again. In a short while, the man drove back in that direction to confirm to the traffic man that his instruction was carried out promptly. He looked around but failed to notice him, but we were both convinced that he would take his words for the honest truth.
Having experienced the two separate instances, I told my friend how I admired the present constable for his leadership quality, his assertive yet gentle manner in executing his responsibility and playing his role diligently and firmly in dignity that represents the high office and mission of the Federal Police Commission and that of the Addis Ababa Traffic Control and Inspection Department. I hope such demonstrations of behavior and discharge of duty is a value-added service that has a meaningful contribution to the national development efforts of this great country, as value-added services come from high caliber, well disposed of people that know their jobs with an extra tip of knowledge about the extent of their legal responsibilities. Yet, nothing is more valuable and important than enlightening and educating people the easy and erudite way rather than through difficulty.