Fresh from holiday in Norway, (where there also is a strict ban on use of mobiles while driving), His Excellency was stopped by the traffic-police on Saturday the 9th of January.
”Receiving a call on my mobile while crossing the 16 lane Meskel Square I answered the phone without remembering the new regulations and was waved down by a police officer when passing into Haile Gebreselassie Road. The officer asked me politely if I was not aware of the new regulations and ban on talking in the mobile while driving, and explained the new rules for me. Apologising and promising to follow the rules in the future I was allowed to drive on without paying the fine of 180 birr due to my diplomatic privileges. This episode, however, shows that the new regulations are implemented effectively in Ethiopia, which bears promise of better traffic security in the country” says ambassador Kjemprud
The Police are also eagerly maintaining order when it comes to jay-walking. Offenders who cross the road outside of the zebra crossing can choose between a fine, 24 hours confinement by the police, or sweeping a stretch on one of the busy Addis highways. A picture in English-language newspaper Fortune shows a row of jay walkers under police-guard on their way to the local precinct after having been caught braking the laws.