Jiangxi jaywalkers forced to repeat "traffic promise" 100 times

Hu Yijing China Plus Published: 2017-07-20 20:06:11
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Jaywalkers who cross the road illegally in Jiangxi Province are facing a novel punishment.

They are being made to stand on a street corner and say, "I will not cross on a red light again," 100 times using a megaphone, reports thepaper.cn.

A middle-aged man holds a loudspeaker repeating "I am not to cross on a red light again" to passersby at a pedestrian crossing in Ji'an city, Jiangxi Province. This punishment for crossing the road on a red light was proposed as an "education lesson" by local traffic policemen. [File Photo: Wechat]

A middle-aged man holds a loudspeaker repeating "I am not to cross on a red light again" to passersby at a pedestrian crossing in Ji'an city, Jiangxi Province. This punishment for crossing the road on a red light was proposed as an "education lesson" by local traffic policemen. [File Photo: Wechat]

The new approach is aimed at reminding people to obeying traffic regulations, as conventional penalty tickets seem to have "little effect", according to Officer Gao, a traffic policeman in Ji'an city.

"The success is remarkable," says Gao. "We used to catch 70 to 80 jaywalkers to begin with, but have seen falling numbers every day since the adoption of the new practice." 

His words were backed up by one pedestrian who'd just finished his "100-times traffic-safety promise".

"It's for our own safety, the policemen are taking responsible for our lives," the middle-aged man told a journalist with a local newspaper.

Most people, including local residents and internet users, approve of the special "punishment", saying it is a good education method to make sure people abide by the traffic rules.

Posts on China's Weibo social media platform are generally favorable:

"I don't ever dare cross on a red light after reading this news…"

"WOW that's shaming … but absolutely effective!"

"Brilliant idea! Well done police officer!"

Some, however, doubt whether the "punishment" is legal, and say it offends personal dignity.

In respond to this, a local lawyer explains that Chinese policemen are legally have the power to educate those who ignore traffic signals, and the measure is a form of education, with no offence to human dignity intended.

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