TRAFFIC POLICE REMINDS!

In order to minimise negative trends in road safety and enhance the effectiveness of internal affairs bodies in eliminating the causes and conditions of road traffic injuries involving pedestrians, it is worth reminding that, in accordance with clause 116 of the Traffic Regulations, when approaching an unregulated pedestrian crossing, a driver must proceed at a speed that will allow them to yield to pedestrians if necessary. The driver's actions at an unregulated crossing must be such that a pedestrian is not forced to change their direction and/or pace of movement while crossing. If a vehicle has stopped (is stationary) or has slowed down before a pedestrian crossing, drivers of other vehicles moving in adjacent lanes in the same direction must reduce their speed and yield to pedestrians if present. A driver who fails to give way to a pedestrian crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing shall be held administratively liable under Article 18.14, Part 6 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus, with a fine of up to 5 base units. For committing such an offence repeatedly within a year, the fine increases to 8 base units.

In darkness, the risk of a collision increases ninefold compared to daylight hours. Therefore, it is necessary to make pedestrians as visible as possible. Passive safety devices made of retroreflective elements (pendants, armbands, vests, etc.) help citizens avoid road traffic accidents. It is important that they are not obscured by folds of clothing, a bag, or an umbrella. At the same time, the use of reflective elements does not grant the right to violate traffic regulations and to step onto the roadway without justification!

In addition, pedestrians, when pedestrian crossings are within their line of sight, must cross the roadway (streets) at these crossings. Before starting to cross, they must ensure that stepping onto the roadway is safe (clause 17.2 of the Traffic Regulations), i.e., stop at the edge of the roadway, look around, and make sure that drivers have noticed them and have managed to stop their vehicles. When crossing the roadway, it is necessary to stop talking on a mobile phone, turn off headphones, and hold young children by the hand.

A pedestrian, a person operating a bicycle, a horse-drawn vehicle, or participating in traffic without operating a vehicle, who has committed a traffic violation, shall be subject to an administrative penalty in the form of a warning or a fine of up to three base amounts, and in case of the pedestrian being in a state of alcoholic intoxication, or refusal to undergo verification (examination) in the established manner – up to five base amounts.