Chinese way of crossing the road
The "Chinese way of crossing the road" (中国式过马路) refers to the people's tendency of getting together in large crowds at the crossroads and then crossing the road all at once, no matter whether the traffic light is green or red -- let alone whether they cross the road at the zebra crossing. The term is mostly used to ridicule jaywalkers.
The trend has occurred since people share the common reasoning that the law cannot be enforced when everyone is an offender, and people just act in conformity with the majority regardless of traffic rules.
The sarcastic term has recently triggered a heated online debate about traffic rules, people's sense of safety and even the qualities of Chinese nationals. Since the second half of 2012, various measures have been issued nationwide to punish the illegal behavior.
Shenzhen in Guangdong Province issued a traffic rule in December 2012, that a jaywalker will either be fined 20 yuan or be a temporary traffic assistant to help maintain order by wearing a green vest. In Beijing, starting from May 6, 2013, a jaywalker will face a fine of 10 yuan; a non-motorized vehicle will be fined 20 yuan for the same disregard of the rules.
In Shijiazhuang, capital city of Hebei Province, the maximum fine on a jaywalker stands at 50 yuan. In Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu Province, a jaywalker will be publically scrutinized if he or she defies traffic punishment and management.
