On the afternoon of 18/9, traffic police from the Rach Chiec Traffic Police team were patrolling Vo Nguyen Giap Street (formerly Thu Duc City). Numerous students disembarked from the bus and climbed over the median strip's greenery or jaywalked across the busy road to reach Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. A pedestrian bridge and a marked crosswalk were only about 300 meters away.
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Two students caught jaywalking are escorted to the sidewalk by traffic police. Photo: Ho Dinh |
Two students caught jaywalking are escorted to the sidewalk by traffic police. Photo: Ho Dinh
A 21-year-old student, stopped by traffic police for jaywalking, explained that the bus stop was directly across from the university. He admitted to crossing the 20-meter stretch of road to avoid the longer walk to the pedestrian bridge. "I crossed the road like that to avoid walking in the hot sun, even though I knew it was a violation," the student said.
This dangerous practice is common in the area due to the concentration of universities and industrial parks. In a single hour, the traffic police fined over 10 students 200,000 VND each.
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A student receives a fine for jaywalking. Photo: Ho Dinh |
A student receives a fine for jaywalking. Photo: Ho Dinh
A representative from the Rach Chiec Traffic Police stated that Vo Nguyen Giap Street, a major artery connecting the eastern gateway with downtown Ho Chi Minh City, carries heavy traffic, including cars and container trucks. Despite this, pedestrians frequently disregard safety regulations. In addition to issuing fines, the unit has recommended that authorities install higher steel barriers along the median to deter jaywalking.
Ho Dinh