Car passengers in Shanghai were flouting the new national seat-belt law, police said yesterday.

Under the new law, front-seat passengers must fasten their seat belts or face a 50 yuan (US$6) fine.

This is just one of the provisions of the laws enacted by the National People's Congress Standing Committee which went into effect across the country on Saturday.

Although required by the law, few passengers paid attention to fastening their belts, according to police.

"It is always required that a front passenger fasten the safety belt. However, in my experience, fewer than 10 percent of passengers actually abide by it," said Sun Ying, a traffic officer in Baoshan District.

Xu Yongchang, a taxi driver, said few of his passengers had put on the belt before. However, Xu said he has seen an improvement in the situation since the fine came into effect.

"Most of the passengers fastened the belts after I told them they would now be fined 50 yuan for failing to do it," said Xu.

Sun said there would be a short grace period before fines would actually be handed out.

Police have been warning offenders about the fine and advising them to abide by the law.

Authorities said they would begin ticketing soon to drive home the seriousness of the new rule.

The country-wide traffic safety law standardizes many rules concerning road safety. For example pedestrians will be fined up to 50 yuan for jaywalking instead of five yuan in the past.

On the other hand, they now enjoy a legal right-of-way at crosswalks before cars make a turn. Drivers who hit pedestrians are subject to punishment.

However, this rule, alone, seems to have a long way to go before working effectively. Local drivers say it's unfair.

"Jaywalking, as such a common sight downtown, is not to be cured in one day. Are we supposed to wait each time until all the jaywalkers finish their way? Then there would never be a proper time for us to go since there are so many pedestrians who pay no attention to the red light," said Xu, the taxi driver.

While the new rule is favored by most pedestrians, Shou Qi, 23, a university student, holds a different view.

"I think pedestrians enjoy too many rights compared with their much fewer obligations in the traffic law," Shou said.

The pedestrian-first policy may offset the positive result which is brought about by the increased fines against jaywalking as pedestrians may abuse the crosswalk policy, said Shou.

(Shanghai Daily May 4, 2004)