Chinese cities introduce face recognition system to catch jaywalkers

Authorities in the eastern Chinese provinces of Shandong and Jiangsu have begun installing red-light cameras in a number of cities, reports CCTV.

A picture of new red-light camera display screens in the city of Suqian in Jiangsu Province. [Photo: cctv.com]

The technology captures the image of the pedestrians, the drivers of non-motor vehicles if they blow a red light.

Within 10 seconds, the information is then put up on display screens.

Basic information of people running red lights can be put on display in the city of Suqian in Jiangsu Province. [Photo: cctv.com]

The ultimate goal is to try to shame jaywalkers in Shandong and Jiangsu into adhering to traffic regulations, which remains a major problem in cities throughout China.

On top of the public shaming, traffic police in the city of Suqian in Jiangsu Province have begun handing out immediate fines ranging from 20 to 50 yuan for both drivers and pedestrians who ignore red lights.

Xia Jianshe, deputy leader of Suqian Traffic Police Detachment. [Photo: cctv.com]

"Since people who run red lights can see the replay and their photos on the big screens, most of them will call the traffic control department to accept the punishment, ask us to remove their photos, and promise to never break the rules again. For those who refuse to contact us, we will eventually track them down after verifying their information," said Xia Jianshe, deputy leader of the Suqian Traffic Police Detachment.

A picture of new red-light camera display screens in the city of Suqian in Jiangsu Province. [Photo: cctv.com]

So far, the new facial recognition system has been installed in ten different intersections in Suqian, with close to 600 violators being caught through May.

In addition to fines, red-light violators in Shandong's provincial capital, Jinan, are also being forced to go through a round of public traffic education, which can include the drivers or pedestrians being tasked with traffic control duties for a time.