Jaywalking

Jaywalking is a form of crossing a street by not following the crosswalk. People crossing the street, known as pedestrians, can get a fine or time in prison for jaywalking in some states and cities.

Origin

In 1905, people used to call carriages or cars that drove on the wrong side of the road "jays", instead of people not following the crosswalk in some places in Kansas. This soon also applied to pedestrians a few years later. In 1915, police in New York wanted to make the term more known. In 1925, the first known event of a person being punished for jaywalking occured.

Jaywalking Media

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  Sign prohibiting jaywalking in Singapore's Orchard Road

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  Jaywalkers cross a congested street in Midtown Manhattan, 1973.

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  Fences, like here in Beijing, deter jaywalkers from crossing the road.

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  Anti-jaywalking sign of the MMDA located on the Ortigas Avenue road median in Metro Manila. The sign roughly translates to "There is no crossing. Deadly."

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  A "No Jaywalking" sign from Singapore

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  Pedestrian prohibition in Luxembourg

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  The motorway's status is signed at its entries and exits by a symbol, conforming to international agreements but specific to each country. Pedestrians are usually banned on European motorways.

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  Panneau d'interdiction d'accès aux piétons en France near the A406 motorway. Notice the fence, that motorists must cross to safety in case of breakdown.

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  Warning sign of the start of the strada extraurbana principale where some restrictions are indicated.