Campaign to respect pedestrians launched
Pedestrians are one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to road accidents. Traffic accidents where people get run over also cause the most serious injuries. In an effort to reduce accidents and the number of victims, the City Police are today launching a week-long campaign on respect for pedestrians.
The prevention campaign is aimed at cutting the risk of people being run over and at protecting pedestrians. To this end, the focus will be on combating infringements by drivers and riders of different types of vehicles, including personal mobility vehicles such as electric scooters.
Enforcement measures will focus on conduct such as:
- Not respecting pedestrian crossings.
- Infringements linked to the circulation of vehicles in pedestrian areas, mixed areas or areas where pedestrians have priority, pedestrian islands and superblocks, where pedestrians also have priority.
- Risky manoeuvres, such as zig-zagging.
- Riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Victims of traffic accidents can be avoided and we need to be more aware of the goal of halving fatalities and severe injuries, as set out in the Road Safety Strategy 2030, with a view to achieving zero fatalities by 2050.
New regulations
The amendment to the by-law on circulation, pedestrians and vehicles came into effect on Saturday, 1 February. The new text prohibits personal mobility vehicles and bicycles from circulating on pavements, leaving these as exclusively pedestrian spaces. As an exception, adults transporting children with authorised systems (trailers and child-seats) or accompanying children under 12 years of age will be able to use pavements.
In all cases, the obligation remains for PMV and bike users to get off their vehicles in crowded areas shared with pedestrians.
C/ Creu Coberta in Sants with pedestrians crossing the street