Cyprus police yesterday began enforcing new traffic regulations that impose a 9-euro (14-dollar) fine for pedestrians who fail to cross the street at designated crossings.

Traffic police chief Doros Achilleos said the unprecedented on-the-spot fines for jaywalkers were essential in the fight to cut road deaths.

Six of the 26 people killed on the island’s roads between January 1 and May 9 were pedestrians.

Cyprus has one of the worst per capita road fatality rates in Europe, even though a police crackdown on drink driving has contributed to a reduction of the annual death toll.

In 2004, 117 people died in road accidents. Last year, that number had fallen to 89, 16 of them pedestrians. (AFP)