CRI听力:Expert on Beijing's Fine on Jaywalkers

A leading Chinese expert in road safety is suggesting the latest increase in fines for Jaywalkers here in Beijing are necessary.

The fines for anyone caught jaywalking here in Beijing has been increased from 5-yuan to 10.

Traffic authorities have also launched a new crackdown on jaywalking this week.

Ding Baoguo with a global road traffic safety cooperation program says while the increase in fines could help, he concedes the slight increase in fines is not nearly as strong as it is in other places.

"In Hong Kong, if you are caught jaywalking for the first time, you will be given a 500 Hong Kong dollar fine. If you were to do that again, you'll be fined with 1000 dollars without any reasons."

In other countries, such as Germany and the United States, jaywalkers face higher loan rates and lower personal credit scores.

Ding Baoguo says punishment isn't the only way to improve traffic safety.

"Some traffic lights don't give pedestrians enough time to walk cross the streets. And there're also problems with the design of the roads, where people have waited for the traffic lights and when the green light's finally on, they would still get blocked by the left-or-right turning vehicles."

Jaywalking here in Beijing, on top of being a safety concern, also significantly slows down traffic flows in high-traffic areas.