During this week’s nationwide control operation focussing on pedestrian crossings, once again the police caught many people who had forgotten the rules that must be followed at pedestrian crossings. In addition, several people were caught not wearing seat belts, as were drivers using their mobile phones without hands-free devices.
According to Chief Superintendent Heikki Kallio of the National Police Board, it was really worrying that during the week, as many as 103 motorists were caught overtaking a car, which had halted at a pedestrian crossing, without stopping. Correspondingly, 99 motorists failed to give way to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings. A total of 53 pedestrians were caught committing a traffic violation.
Surveillance by the police and the reduction in pedestrian crossing accidents over the past few years indicate that fortunately, pedestrian crossings are being taken more seriously.
“However, every accident and incident at a pedestrian crossing is one too many, since they should be safe places to cross roads,” comments Chief Superintendent Kallio.
The police devoted 1,203 working hours to the intensive surveillance campaign. In connection with the campaign, a total of 117 drivers or passengers were caught not wearing seat belts. Motorists who were using a mobile phone while driving numbered 85. A total of 35 drivers were observed running a red light and 60 ignored the STOP sign.
