Helsinki city councillor Osmo Soininvaara (Green League) urges that pedestrian crossings be put under special surveillance. Writing on his blog, Soininvaara suggests that the police should adopt a zero tolerance policy on reckless drivers who fail to stop at designated pedestrian crossings.
”Ignoring the rule regarding pedestrian crossings is a serious offence”, Soininvaara says.
”If a driver is found guilty of such an offence his or her driving licence should be suspended, first for a week, and the second time for several months. If it happens again, the licence should be revoked”, Soininvaara demands.
In his proposal, Soininvaara refers to an incident from last Saturday, when two teenage girls using a pedestrian crossing were hit by a car in Helsinki. The driver did not care to stop even though another car on the adjacent lane had already stopped before the pedestrian crossing to allow pedestrians to cross.
The girls were taken to hospital with serious injuries but according to the police the teenagers are out of danger.
