The Weifang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone is this year taking the initiative to improve road safety and conditions, among its efforts to support the Weifang Quality City Construction project.

Local officials said that in 2017 the zone launched a program to promote improved behavior behind the wheel.

As a result, drivers in the region are required to stop when they see pedestrians walk onto zebra crossings.

Government vehicles, buses, police cars and some private car owners were provided with reminder stickers asking drivers to "give way at zebra crossing lines."

Volunteers also gave information to drivers on the street. Local media helped, broadcasting non-commercial advertising, to educate road users.

"More than 90 percent of drivers have learnt to give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings after we promoted the project for more than a month," said Su Guangsheng, deputy head of the traffic police department of the zone's public security bureau.

"On a street without traffic lights, a driver let me go first at a zebra crossing," a netizen posted on an online bulletin board.

"I gave the thumbs up to the driver who smiled back at me. The zone is good. The people in the zone are good."

The netizen's post attracted widespread attention and many other netizens replied with "likes" for the city and the driver.

Apart from promoting civilized behavior among drivers, the zone also launched many other behavior promotion projects to improve the lot of residents.

The zone installed signal lights this year allowing pedestrians to press a button before walking onto zebra crossings on some crowded streets. The new signals give pedestrians an extra 30 seconds to reach the other side of the crossing, after pressing the button at the lights.

"It will help reduce the chances of a traffic accident happening and provide a safer environment for residents," Su said.

Apart from promoting improved traffic behavior, the zone was active in other areas.

It also made a significant investment to refurbish old residential communities, upgrade old pipe networks, expand green areas, build more cultural facilities, promote better rubbish treatment methods and enhance the living environment in both urban and rural areas.

The zone is also making efforts to enhance the quality of public services, improve city management skills and regulate the operations of local markets.

As a result of the initiatives, officials say, many illegal buildings in old communities were removed and littering on the street is rarely seen.

Cui Chengwang contributed to this story.

(China Daily 12/07/2017 page10）