Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 31 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
Pedestrians talking on the phone or listening to music when crossing road could be fined in Azerbaijan.
In recent years, widespread gross violations of traffic rules is observed due to the fact that pedestrians are talking or listening to music on the phone while crossing the road, Azerbaijani Interior Ministry's Central State Traffic Police Department Spokesman Kamran Aliyev told Trend.
According to him, sending SMS, talking and listening to music on the phone for pedestrians crossing the road leads to a tragic outcome.
"Pedestrians, talking or listening to music on the phone when crossing the road, oblivious to cars, do not comply with traffic lights and road signs, thus they are creating an emergency situation. To prevent such cases in Azerbaijan, it was necessary to include such violations in the law as an administrative violation as it is practiced in foreign countries, and fine pedestrians for it," Aliyev said.
The country's legislation will certainly be amended in the near future in connection with this, he added.
Baku recorded 519 traffic accidents resulting in 140 deaths and injuring 437 persons in 2010. 9,959 pedestrians were punished for violating traffic rules in accordance with the requirements of the law.