A driver was fined 500 yuan (US$71) for illegally crossing four lanes at a time near the intersection of Fuhua Road and Jintian Road on Friday, the first day the new traffic rules were implemented.
An online car-hailing driver was fined 200 yuan for not reminding two passengers to fasten their safety belts.
In the first day, Shenzhen traffic police caught 108 drivers for failing to slow down and give way to pedestrians at crossings without a traffic light.
Under the new traffic regulations, a driver can change one lane at a time and drive on one lane for at least three seconds before changing to the next lane. If they cross more than one lane at one time, they will be fined 500 yuan, which is 200 yuan more than the fine under the previous regulation.
When changing lanes, drivers need to turn on their turn signals to notify others. Suddenly changing, or pulling over to the roadside without signaling will result in a fine of 300 yuan.
Despite drivers being responsible for reminding passengers to wear seatbelts, passengers are also liable and will be fined 200 yuan for failing to wear them. For vehicles engaged in the transportation business, drivers are obliged to, either verbally or through printed notices in their vehicles, remind passengers to fasten their safety belts, otherwise the drivers will be fined 200 yuan.
E-bike drivers under the influence of alcohol will face fines of up to 2,000 yuan. Accidents related to e-bikes have also continued rising in recent years. In 2018, fatalities related to e-bikes made up 40 percent of the total traffic deaths in the city, and 94 people died in traffic accidents caused by drivers recklessly using their phones or other devices. The new regulation bans all manual operation of phones while driving and violators will be fined 300 yuan.
The new regulation also raises the punishment for illegally using high beams from 300 yuan to 500 yuan. Vehicles can only use high beams at night when there are no street lights or auxiliary lighting in the area. Violators will be fined 500 yuan, which will be doubled to 1,000 yuan upon the third violation within a year.
It also clarifies the responsibilities involved in turning right at a red light and the purchase and sale of license points.
When stopped at a red light at a road crossing, vehicles that are allowed to turn right must yield to through-cars coming from the other direction and pedestrians. Violators will be fined 500 yuan.
Police can suspend the driver’s licenses of people found involved in license point trading for one to six months and fine them between 1,000 to 5,000 yuan.
Those involved in license point trading as a profession, or who organize such trades, will face 5,000-20,000 yuan in fines and 5-10 days of administrative detention if they provide false testimony.