People walk on a 3D zebra crossing in Chengdu. (Photo/Chengdu Daily)
There seems to be no end to the Chinese police's creativity in teaching motorists and pedestrians to obey traffic rules. After facial scans, the latest is the "3D" zebra crossing.
At two busy urban intersections in the southwest city of Chengdu, police drew the usually flat zebra strips with shading and perspective to make them "rise" from the road. The stripes were also painted in blue, yellow, and white, instead of the traditional white color.
Police said it was aimed to create the illusion that drivers might hit speed humps if they do not slow down.
"After we made this, more drivers learned to slow down and give way to pedestrians at the crosswalks," said police officer Yuan.
Chinese motorists are notorious for speeding, instead of slowing down, at crosswalks. It is also very common for pedestrians to run on red lights.
But a horrific accident caught by surveillance camera showing a woman hit and then run over twice on the crosswalk led to public soul-searching on traffic rules.
The Ministry of Public Security said 3,898 people had died in 14,000 accidents on crosswalks nationwide in the past three years.
Several cities began to install facial scans on the crosswalks to identify pedestrians who run on red lights.
Police have also vowed to severely punish drivers who do not give way to pedestrians.
But Chengdu residents said the innovative 3D crossing would probably work better.
"Before, cars might not give way to pedestrians. But now, with these eye-catching crosswalks, they slow down," said Huang, a Chengdu resident .
Police said they will evaluate the practice and expand it across the city if well received.
