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&#160;On May 23, Shenzhen introduced tough new rules in order to discourage the "Chinese style of crossing the road (中国式过马路).” On the day the new rules were introduced, nearly 3,000 people were caught violating them by 1,300 police standing guard at various intersections throughout the city. Of those caught, 2,000 people were issued a fine.The “Chinese style of crossing the road” is a Chinese expression that refers to the behavior of Chinese pedestrians crossing an intersection, not based on the traffic signals, but by whether there are a sufficient number of pedestrians who feel it’s safe to cross. Such behavior often poses a danger to both drivers and pedestrians themselves. Although such behavior isn't unique to China, traffic conditions and intersection designs in China have made the behavior more rampant here than in many other countries around the world.Since May 23, pedestrians in Shenzhen who jaywalk can either be issued a fine of up to 100 yuan, or become a volunteer at an intersection for up to 60 minutes. The penalty given in each circumstance depends upon the nature of the offence. Those who refuse to cooperate can be detained by police.Read moreRelated articleLinda Chen Is the Chinese Way of crossing the road about to change?  Sino-US.com, 2012-10-30