
A Chinese city started using a robotic traffic policeman to catch jaywalkers yesterday.

The droid, stationed at a crossroad in the city of Xiangyang, central China's Hubei Province, has been programmed to stop and tell off pedestrians who run the red lights.

Local authority hoped that the robotic traffic officer could help correct Chinese people's bad habits while crossing roads.

Robocop: A robotic traffic police officer was put to use yesterday at a traffic junction in central China's Xiangyang city

Follow the rules: A Xiangyang traffic policeman showed a safety reminder on the robot to a passer-by yesterday

The robotic cop can send signals through its arm gestures, give verbal warnings to jaywalkers and flash lights as reminders, stated in a report in gmw.cn.

The head of the robot serves as a surveillance camera which can record offensive behaviour on the road.

It is stationed on a refuge island at a crossing on Tanxi road to monitor the pedestrians of Xiangyang. Local authority hoped that the robot could help prevent the 'Chinese-style road crossing' from occurring.

According to People's Daily Online, 'Chinese-style road crossing' happens when a crowd of people ignore the traffic lights and cross the roads at any time.

Authority hoped that the robot could help prevent the notorious 'Chinese-style road crossing' from happening

'Chinese-style road crossing' happens when nobody on the roads follows the rules and everybody runs the red lights

The lack of safety awareness, poor road planning and ineffective laws are believed to be the causes of the 'Chinese-style road crossing'.

Therefore, the Xiangyang police decided to place a robot cop to assist the traffic police officers.

The robot reminds pedestrians by raising its arms and flashing lights while the screen on its chest shows warning signs and safety slogans.

All surveillance camera footage will be kept as evidence when accidents happened.

Traffic police will also use the footage as reference when they need to fine any pedestrians for running red lights.

Police authority said the robot could help share the workload with the traffic officers' workload and improve road safety