Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Zhejiang City to Start Fining Distracted Pedestrians

Zhejiang City to Start Fining Distracted Pedestrians

Officials in the eastern city of Jiaxing want walkers to keep their eyes on the road, not their phones.

A city in eastern China wants pedestrians to look both ways - and only both ways - when crossing the street, threatening smartphone addicts with fines of up to 50 yuan ($7) for checking their phones or other mobile devices in traffic.

The new rules, approved by Jiaxing city leaders in August and ratified by the Zhejiang provincial People’s Congress late last month, are aimed at promoting “civilized behavior.” In addition to the above-mentioned restriction on mobile device use, the list of prohibited actions also includes throwing garbage out of car windows; sloppy or illicit parking; and making a commotion in public spaces like libraries, museums, and movie theaters.

But it was the rules targeting ditouzu, or the “lowered-heads tribe,” that attracted the bulk of the attention - and support - after Jiaxing’s decision went viral over the weekend. On popular microblogging platform Weibo, a hashtag related to the policy had 52 million views by time of publication, with many calling the fines “a great idea.”

“Absolutely support it! We can’t allow an individual’s lack of safety awareness to harm drivers and their families,” reads one upvoted comment. Some suggested adopting the policy nationwide, while others argued a 50 yuan fine was not enough to deter potential rulebreakers.

While the majority of reactions were supportive, some users questioned whether the city was being reasonable. “If both pedestrians and drivers are all following the traffic lights, who cares if people are looking at their phones while crossing the street?” asked one.

Jiaxing is not the only city dealing with distracted pedestrians. This January, Wenzhou City, also in Zhejiang province, banned a number of “behaviors affecting other vehicles or pedestrians,” including certain categories of phone use. Later that month, the city’s decision to fine a pedestrian 10 yuan for using her mobile phone while crossing the street drew widespread applause from netizens.

In May 2017, a motorcycle passenger died after colliding with a jaywalker in China’s southern Guangdong province. Surveillance camera footage showed the jaywalker looking at his phone while crossing the street, and he ultimately paid 200,000 yuan in compensation to the deceased’s family and was given a 10-month suspended sentence.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Hungarian Parliament Approves Citizenship Suspension Law
Prime Minister Orbán Criticizes EU's Ukraine Accession Plans
Hungarian Delicacies Introduced to Japanese Market
Hungary's Industrial Output Rises Amid Battery Sector Slump
President Sulyok Celebrates 15 Years of Hungarian Unity Efforts
Hungary's Szeleczki Shines at World Judo Championships
Visegrád Construction Trends Diverge as Hungary Lags
Hungary Hosts National Quantum Technology Workshop
Hungarian Animation Featured at Annecy Festival
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
UK and EU Reach Agreement on Gibraltar's Schengen Integration
Israeli Finance Minister Imposes Banking Penalties on Palestinians
U.S. Inflation Rises to 2.4% in May Amid Trade Tensions
Trump's Policies Prompt Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment in U.S.
Global Oceans Near Record Temperatures as CO₂ Levels Climb
Trump Announces U.S.-China Trade Deal Covering Rare Earths
Smuggled U.S. Fuel Funds Mexican Cartels Amid Crackdown
Austrian School Shooting Leaves Nine Dead in Graz
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Low Turnout Jeopardizes Italy's Citizenship Reform Referendum
Transatlantic Interest Rate Divergence Widens as Trump Pressures Powell
EU Lawmaker Calls for Broader Exemptions in Supply Chain Legislation
France's Defense Spending Plans Threatened by High National Debt
European Small-Cap Stocks Outperform U.S. Rivals Amid Growth Revival
Switzerland Proposes $26 Billion Capital Increase for UBS
×