The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MDTP) has started offering two-hour classes on road safety on the road itself to those crossing roads by not complying with the traffic rules.

In view of the increasing cases of haphazard road crossing, the traffic police took this measure in effect from today, according to MDTP Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Basanta Kumar Panta.

Such classes are offered at various 12 places in the Kathmandu Valley and from 9-11 am and 4-6 pm, shared SSP Panta, adding that the jaywalkers get to learn about the traffic lights, zebra crossings, subways, overhead bridges and traffic rules and regulations in the classes.

The places where such classes are conducted are Thimi, Koteshwor, New Baneshwor, Thapathali, Old Buspark, Singha Durbar, Gaushala, Maharajgunj among others.

SSP Panta believed that the new move would help decrease road accidents and make the pedestrians cognizant of traffic rules and regulations and comply with them.

The traffic police have also urged the pedestrians to use overhead bridges in the places like New Road, Bir Hospital, Bhotahiti, Jamal, Old Bus Park, Bhadrakali, Nagisthan and New Bus Park.

Earlier, the traffic police had been levying a fine worth Rs 200 to the jaywalkers. The action received severe criticism from the pedestrians. As a result, the erstwhile Minister of Home Affairs instructed the MDTP to halt it, thereafter the MDTP ceased to fine jaywalkers. RSS