Some time ago, at a meeting of the Milli Majlis, MP Tahir Rzayev stated that people crossing the road one by one at pedestrian crossings caused an increase in traffic jams in the capital. The deputy suggested that pedestrians should cross after gathering in groups in front of the road. This idea caused widespread discussions in social networks and in the public. While some citizens considered this a useful step to reduce traffic congestion, others thought that such an approach was problematic both legally and practically. The re-emergence of the topic has actualized the question of whether people who cross the pedestrian crossing one by one can be fined.
Speaking to Modern.az on the topic, transport expert Aslan Asadov stated that the movement of pedestrians varies depending on the type of crossing and the road's regulation system:
“There are pedestrian crossings where traffic is regulated by traffic lights. In such areas, people usually cross the road en masse. But there are also crossings that are not regulated – for example, overpasses and underpasses. In these cases, it is possible for pedestrians to cross one by one, and this can be considered a normal situation.”
The expert noted that the main issue is that pedestrians and drivers should not obstruct other road users:
“Both drivers and pedestrians have responsibilities. Drivers should not obstruct other road users or endanger their movement trajectory. Pedestrians should also not obstruct the movement of other people in the same way.”
According to Aslan Asadov, pedestrians should be more careful on fast and dangerous roads:
“If pedestrians try to cross in unmarked places, especially on fast roads, they are responsible for their own safety. In such cases, administrative responsibility may also arise.”
The expert believes that the issue of pedestrians crossing in groups or individually cannot be evaluated in the same way on every road:
“There are roads in Baku and the regions, most of which are regulated by traffic lights. There, the right of way is determined by green and red light signals. For this reason, it would not be correct to apply the approach that pedestrians must cross the road in groups to all crossings.”
Lawyer Turan Abdullazade stated that currently, in Azerbaijani legislation, pedestrians crossing the road “one by one” is not considered a separate offense:
“The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Law “On Road Traffic” define the rules for pedestrians crossing the road. According to the law, pedestrians must only use designated crossings, obey traffic light signals, and not obstruct road traffic. However, ‘crossing the pedestrian crossing one by one’ is not stipulated as a separate violation. Therefore, there is no legal basis for imposing a fine solely for this reason.”
The lawyer noted that according to Article 338 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, pedestrians are only liable in certain cases:
“Cases such as not obeying pedestrian traffic lights or regulator signals, suddenly stepping in front of cars, and not giving way to vehicles with special signals can result in a fine of 20 manats. At the same time, pedestrians who cross the road in an unmarked place are also fined.”
According to him, the issue of responsibility can only arise if the pedestrian's behavior creates a real obstruction:
“If pedestrians deliberately block traffic, slow down the road, and create artificial traffic jams, then their actions can be evaluated as obstructing road traffic. But this is not an automatic rule, and each specific case must be proven separately.”
