3D crosswalks employed to better secure pedestrians

A pair of 3D crosswalks have been tested outside a middle school in the city of Yulin in northwest China's Shaanxi Province to better protect pedestrians, reports the China Business View.

A 3D crosswalk appears to look like stones floating in the air near a middle school in the city of Yulin, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Photo: Yulin Daily]

The 3D crosswalks, painted in black, white and grey, take on the appearance of square stones floating in the air. Local traffic police said these types of 3D crosswalks prompt drivers to slow down and reduce traffic accidents.

Thinking the 3D crosswalks are roadblocks from a distance, a number of drivers interviewed in the report said the special design does make them drive more slowly.

However, other drivers said the crosswalks could confuse drivers, causing them to brake suddenly, which could lead to a possible pileup.

Zhang Shengliang, an official of Yulin, said the 3D crosswalks won't be used along expressways or on main roads, but will be expanded to areas near schools and hospitals if they continue to prove effective.

A 3D crosswalk painted in white, blue and yellow at a crossing in Beijing. [Photo: Legal Evening News]

3D crosswalks have been employed in several cities across China in recent years, including Beijing and Shanghai.

China's Ministry of Public Security launched a nation-wide campaign last month to better protect pedestrians from motorists.

Beijing traffic police have begun enforcing a fine of 200 yuan (29 US dollars) for motorists who fail to give way to pedestrians at crosswalks.

The violation will also result in the loss of three demerit points. When motorists lose 12 points, they have to take their driver's license test again.

During the past three years, 3,898 people were killed in approximately 14,000 accidents on crosswalks in China, 90 percent of which involved motorists failing to give way to pedestrians, according to the Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.