In its bid to cut the number of run-over accidents, Sharjah had fined more than 11,000 jaywalkers over a period of 13 months, police authoorities have said.
Sharjah Police fined 11,343 people who were caught jaywalking from the beginning of 2016 till February 8 this year and a total of 235 run-over accidents were recorded, Gulf News quoted Lieutenant Suad Al Sheba, spokesperson for the Traffic and Patrol Department of Sharjah Police, as saying.
Jaywalking attracts a fine of Dh200, the report said. The number of deaths due to pedestrians being hit by cars declined in 2016 compared with 2015.
Pedestrians are often advised not to cross highways with speed limits of more than 80km/h because they could be held liable for any accident, the officer reportedly said.
The Federal Penal Code allows traffic prosecutors to hold pedestrians, who cross roads in undesignated areas and cause accidents resulting in injuries or property damages, liable, the report said.
As for motorists, Article 43 imposes a fine of Dh500 and six traffic points for not giving priority to pedestrians in designated areas, said the news portal.
Article 48 imposes a fine of Dh500 for parking a vehicle on a pedestrian crossing, the GN report highlighted.
Article 111 reportedly imposes a fine of Dh200 and three traffic points for stopping a vehicle in a manner that causes danger to pedestrians.
