Police drive against jaywalkers under way

Many pedestrians were caught off guard when jaywalking yesterday as police started an SAR-wide operation to combat lawbreaking.

Some people slapped with a HK$2,000 fixed penalty said they were in a rush and ignored the red light.

Police launched the two-week law-enforcement action to target pedestrian violations, including crossing the road without following traffic lights, climbing over roadside barriers to cross a road and endangering themselves or others while crossing the road.

The police also cracked down on improper behavior by motorists, including distracted, careless and dangerous driving.

Officers are enforcing the law throughout Hong Kong, issuing tickets to anyone ignoring road rules.

More than 10 people received tickets in one hour at a crossing in Tai Po Market, with most of the offenders claiming they crossed the road without realizing it.

"I won't jaywalk when it's not raining," said one offender. "When it's raining everyone is in a hurry and walks faster."

A woman took a different approach, telling officers: "I have blurred vision, and I'm in a hurry because I need to find a restroom."

But some individuals escaped the fine. A foreign domestic worker who crossed a road when the green light was flashing was not ticketed by a policewoman but received a verbal warning.

"I was crossing the road, and the green light was flashing," the offender said. "The officer told me not to cross, though I didn't know it was an offense. I will follow the rules next time."

The police said the operation aims to change the incorrect behavior of people through the fixed-penalty deterrent.

In future they will formulate different enforcement plans based on the traffic accident situations in various districts.

They underlined on Facebook that it is prohibited for anyone to climb over or cross any roadside barrier or median strip when crossing a road.

While the enforcement operation at the crossing in Tai Po Market lasted for about an hour with more than 10 people nabbed, the situation after police left saw pedestrians ignoring red lights again.

According to data released by police there were 62 fatal traffic accidents in the first seven months of the year, including 38 pedestrian killed. The majority were elderly.

Police said that the elderly are often involved in accidents due to a lack of attention while crossing a road or not being fully aware of the rules.