Police have launched a citywide crackdown targeting distracted drivers and jaywalkers, which will continue through March 31.
Footage posted on social media showed officers deployed across various districts, with Kwai Fong identified as a hotspot for jaywalking offences. One video captured a woman being stopped and fined by a traffic warden for crossing illegally.
Despite a visible police presence, several pedestrians were seen ignoring traffic signals, with some described as “willing to take the bait.”
A middle-aged woman was seen pleading for leniency after being caught, but police refused her appeal. “I'm wearing a reflective vest and standing next to the traffic light. Didn't I give you a chance?” an officer was heard telling the woman.
Police said the operations aim to raise safety awareness among pedestrians and drivers, urging the public not to challenge the law.
According to police statistics, 96 people died in traffic accidents in the city last year, including 52 pedestrians—a 24 percent increase from the previous year. The main causes cited were driver inattention and jaywalking.
Under current law, those caught jaywalking can be fined up to HK$2,000.
Police urged pedestrians to avoid crossing against traffic lights, weaving between vehicles, and ignoring drivers’ blind spots. Members of the public are also encouraged to use designated crossing facilities, including signal-controlled crossings, zebra crossings, footbridges, and subways.
