Algeria aims to reduce the number of traffic fatalities by severely punishing pedestrians for jaywalking and other offenses.
By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 11/02/10
Algerians may be more cautious about where they stroll, now that they face a 2,000-dinar fine for crossing outside an officially marked intersection.
The new fines are 10 times the amount previously charged to pedestrians for breaking the law. And to further deter scoff-laws, drivers may now report pedestrians for roadway violations.
The hefty new fines, which came into effect January 1st, are the latest effort by the Algerian government to stop mayhem on the roads. According to official statistics, 8.7% of all traffic accidents resulting in injuries involve pedestrians.
Authorities are confident that strict enforcement of the pedestrian-safety law will encourage the safe use of public roads and also help regulate the flow of traffic.
The new fines for pedestrians are part of a wider effort to improve traffic safety. Algeria recently banned old vehicles from the roads and limited the working hours of drivers of public service vehicles in the hopes of decreasing the number of fatalities.
Public safety officers are working hard to inform Algerians about the new penalties for jaywalking and other disruptions of traffic.
"Before we begin applying the measure in practice, we'll raise pedestrians' awareness" of the law, said police officer Mohamed. "They have to understand that the risk is real."
Mehdi, a young driver, said he hoped the law would make pedestrians "a little more disciplined".
"I've been hoping that pedestrians will get the same punishment as drivers when they break the Highway Code," he told Magharebia. "Pedestrians make me very afraid. They cross in any old place. They're in underpasses on the motorways. How can you avoid a pedestrian when you're driving fast on a motorway?"
Other Algerians are upset with the size of the new fines for errant walkers.
Salima, an Algiers-based personal assistant, called the fines "excessive by comparison with what Algerians can afford".
"I can definitely believe we're not too respectful of the law, but who can afford such a steep fine? It's really excessive!" she told Magharebia.
One law-enforcement officer in Algiers was not surprised by her reaction. "People are amazed at the fine for pedestrians," agreed Salim. "They forget that it has always existed, even though it used to be only 200 dinars and wasn’t really enforced," he added.
Now, the policeman said, "the state is really determined".
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/02/11/feature-02.
By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 11/02/10
Algerians may be more cautious about where they stroll, now that they face a 2,000-dinar fine for crossing outside an officially marked intersection.
The new fines are 10 times the amount previously charged to pedestrians for breaking the law. And to further deter scoff-laws, drivers may now report pedestrians for roadway violations.
The hefty new fines, which came into effect January 1st, are the latest effort by the Algerian government to stop mayhem on the roads. According to official statistics, 8.7% of all traffic accidents resulting in injuries involve pedestrians.
Authorities are confident that strict enforcement of the pedestrian-safety law will encourage the safe use of public roads and also help regulate the flow of traffic.
The new fines for pedestrians are part of a wider effort to improve traffic safety. Algeria recently banned old vehicles from the roads and limited the working hours of drivers of public service vehicles in the hopes of decreasing the number of fatalities.
Public safety officers are working hard to inform Algerians about the new penalties for jaywalking and other disruptions of traffic.
"Before we begin applying the measure in practice, we'll raise pedestrians' awareness" of the law, said police officer Mohamed. "They have to understand that the risk is real."
Mehdi, a young driver, said he hoped the law would make pedestrians "a little more disciplined".
"I've been hoping that pedestrians will get the same punishment as drivers when they break the Highway Code," he told Magharebia. "Pedestrians make me very afraid. They cross in any old place. They're in underpasses on the motorways. How can you avoid a pedestrian when you're driving fast on a motorway?"
Other Algerians are upset with the size of the new fines for errant walkers.
Salima, an Algiers-based personal assistant, called the fines "excessive by comparison with what Algerians can afford".
"I can definitely believe we're not too respectful of the law, but who can afford such a steep fine? It's really excessive!" she told Magharebia.
One law-enforcement officer in Algiers was not surprised by her reaction. "People are amazed at the fine for pedestrians," agreed Salim. "They forget that it has always existed, even though it used to be only 200 dinars and wasn’t really enforced," he added.
Now, the policeman said, "the state is really determined".
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/02/11/feature-02.
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