Awareness on jaywalking

2 September 2011 09:20 am Views - 7144

The Colombo city traffic police have initiated an awareness programme for the public to educate the public on the importance of using zebra crossings when crossing the road.

In a an attempt to limit jaywalking the police carried out the awareness program in Colombo today to ensure pedestrians cross the road only at zebra crossings and overhead bridges.

Police said that the programme to create awareness among the public will continue for a considerable time period and thereafter the law will be strictly enforced against jaywalkers.

“The police will first create awareness but we will not impose fines and take strict police action against jaywalkers at the beginning,” police media spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said.

The programme was conducted in the Colombo district throughout the day noting that jaywalking has resulted in a rise in accidents. “Until the pedestrians are educated we will conduct the awareness programme,” he added.

The police request the public to use pedestrian crossings to prevent road accidents and traffic congestion. However, observations conducted near the busy pedestrian crossings have pointed to the need of better education for the pedestrians to obey the traffic lights when crossing the roads. (Supun Dias)