Shanghai's recently launched campaign against traffic violations looks unlikely to let up any time soon after the city's vice mayor, and Public Security Bureau chief, stated yesterday that the programme of fines and stoppages will continue 'until the situation improves'.
Perhaps in a nod to previous public safety campaigns in the city - which have occasionally seen short bursts of activity for a few weeks only for authorities to allow things to slide back to normal again - Bai Shaokang told a local radio phone-in show yesterday that 'people shouldn't assume that [this campaign] will be dropped after three months. We are committed to fighting traffic offences over the long term.'
The campaign has seen officers posted on most major crossroads and junctions across the city, as well as hiding part-way down certain streets and stopping offenders to issue on-the-spot fines. In addition, drivers have been encouraged to report their fellow motorists for transgressions using dashboard cameras.
Since the drive was launched on March 25, authorities say there have been 2.6 million offences recorded and long queues have been reported at the offices responsible for handling traffic fines. Punishments include a 20RMB on-the-spot fine for cycling down a street without a dedicated bike lane (we know that because we were caught - oh the shame).
Now, if they can just stop drivers from trying to barge their way in front of pedestrians crossing the street we'll be getting somewhere...
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