Road safety campaign wants pedestrians to think about the unnecessary risks taken when crossing the road.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC) pedestrians take needless risks crossing the road, ignoring traffic signals, and dodging between traffic. This is borne out by numerous unapologetic jaywalkers attempting to cross a busy Dame Street in Dublin.
Did you ever hear of jaywalking?
An Garda Síochána and the NSC have launched an awareness campaign to encourage pedestrians to cross the road at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. The campaign will last for two weeks. During this time, nobody will be prosecuted. From then on jaywalking will carry a £150 fine for a first offence. This rises to a £350 fine and three months in jail for a third offence.
Chief Superintendent John O'Brien says An Garda Síochána are not seeking a high number of prosecutions. He hopes the campaign will encourage pedestrians to take more care on the roads.
We do want them to pay attention, we do want them to stay alive.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 March 1998. The reporter is Deirdre McCarthy.
