Police to get strict on jaywalkers yet again, identify 6 intersections

Delhi Police's latest guideline for pedestrians: Earn bucks by following road norms, and lose by violating. Subhendu Ray reports.

Delhi Police's latest guideline for pedestrians: Earn bucks by following road norms, and lose by violating.

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In a bid to reduce pedestrian road deaths, traffic police have decided to reinitiate their drive of slapping fines on jaywalkers.

They have identified six most accident-prone intersections where proper pedestrian facilities like foot overbridges or underpasses are in place but most do not use them. "From Thursday morning, no jaywalker will be spared here," said Satyendra Garg, JCP (traffic).

A jaywalker would be slapped a fine of Rs 50 as per the Rules of Road Regulation. Towards the end of 2007, the traffic police had started enforcing the rule, but in 2009, they suddenly discontinued the drive.

"About 45% of the victims of road accidents were pedestrians. We cannot afford to let the trend continue," Garg said, adding that subsequently the penalty would be imposed at other intersections where pedestrians violate road norms while crossing roads.

Some of the stretches where maximum pedestrians got killed last year include Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, GT Karnal Road, Rohtak Road and Mathura Road among others.

On January 1, Delhi Police had started a unique initiative to promote pedestrian safety, offering a prize of Rs 5,000 to those using pedestrian facilities. Lucky coupons are distributed among those who use these facilities outside the Income Tax Office near Pragati Maidan and Anand Vihar. The recipient of the prize would be decided by a lucky draw.