Pedestrians violating traffic laws will be fined beginning February 1, according to the Hanoi traffic police.

The traffic inspectors and police will issue traffic citations to pedestrians violating the laws on major routes, traffic hubs and roads banning walkers.

Accordingly, pedestrians will be fined from 50,000 VND to 120,000 VND (2 to 5 USD) for violations, including crossing roads at unmarked locations, walking on expressways, crossing centre dividers and carrying cumbersome objects.

Pedestrians cross a flyover on Chua Boc street, Hanoi.

Also, police will stiffen punishments for motor vehicles violating laws in order to ensure the safety of traffic during the Lunar New Year Festival.

Fines will range from 100,000 VND to 400,000 VND (4 to 18 USD) for illegal parking, not wearing helmets, not obeying traffic lights, traveling on expressways or walking on banned roads.

Using mass media, the Hanoi police will sponsor programmes to increase the public's awareness about traffic safety beginning today and continuing until January 31.

There were nearly 1,700 traffic accidents in 2015, of which 112 were related to pedestrians and 916 were caused by motorbikes, according to data from the Hanoi police department.

Source: VNA