Motorists have long been the prime target of the state Treasury. The police are ordered to be merciless in issuing fines and driving a car is like walking through a minefield. Drive just a whisker over the speed limit and you will be nabbed by a speed camera. Former " No Standing " signs have been changed to " No Stopping " - and there are few legal opportunities to pickup or set down a passenger - and those fines and loss of demerit points are savage on the motorists wallet.
It is an entirely different matter when it comes to pedestrians. There are laws pertaining to the use of the streets - but they are unenforced. Motorists are delayed at light controlled intersections when pedestrians continue to walk against the red pedestrian light and people dart across busy roads wherever they see a slight traffic break. This illegality is usually ignored by both the police and council rangers.
The appearance of technology such as smart phones and tablets has introduced a new hazard for motorists. We are now seeing pedestrians with their eyes glued to that small screen and with their ears deaf to traffic noise moving amongst road traffic - and the incidence of accidents is rising.
It seems that the onus to avoid an accident still rests with the motorist. The law requires a driver to " at all times drive at a speed which will enable them to stop ". Even if a pedestrian actually walks into the side of a stopped car - the driver can expect questioning and harassment from the police - as to why this accident was not avoided.
Now it seems that the state government has ordered a crackdown on the practice of " Jaywalking " and operation " Franklin " has selected three police officers to patrol the inner city of Sydney - and hand out fines.
Jaywalking attracts a fine of $ 67 and the officers involved claim it is so prevalent that they have no difficulty in handing out thirty to forty infringement notices every hour.
Three officers in a city the size of Sydney enforcing the jaywalking law is something of a joke. If we are to change the habits of the pedestrian culture it will require every cop and council ranger in both the inner city and the suburbs to take part in a blitz to widely enforce this law.
Most of those fined are completely unaware that they have infringed a law. Walking against the red light and darting across city streets has been so prevalent for such a long time that it will take a sustained blitz of inflicting fines - coupled with an advertising campaign to make sure this law is understood - to create change.
Unfortunately, handing out these fines will most likely be resented, but surely this is a case of taking action for the good of those involved. Otherwise, a change of culture is going to result in an increase of pedestrian deaths.
Motorists would welcome less pedestrian hazards on city streets - and perhaps this would be a good time to extend the blitz to cyclists - and remind them that four wheel laws also apply to those travelling on just two wheels.
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