$50 FOR JAYWALKING

JAYWALKERS face $50 fines and pedestrians hit by cars could be forced to
have alcohol and drug tests.

Pub and bar managers also have been urged by a parliamentary committee to
breath-test suspected drunks before serving them more alcohol.

The radical steps head a range of recommendations from the road safety
committee before the Bracks Government aimed at cutting Victoria's
pedestrian death toll.

"As with any other road users, pedestrians should understand they must take
responsibility for their actions," the report found.

"The severity of penalties for crossing the road inappropriately should
reflect the dangers to pedestrians and others."

The 122-page report, tabled last week in the Legislative Assembly, said both
the police and VicRoads supported increasing jaywalking penalties from $15
to $50.

It also said police tendered evidence to the committee revealing pedestrians
were dodging fines by giving police a false name and address when nabbed.

"Anecdotal evidence of enforcement campaigns conducted in the vicinity of
Melbourne University, shows the majority of infringement notices issued are
returned and remain unpaid as the name and address given at the time are
false," it states.

The report said 79 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents last year
and alcohol has been blamed as one of the main reasons.

Separate studies released last week showed that four in 10 pedestrians
killed on Australians roads had blood alcohol levels above .05.

The report, which is being considered by the government, also said
pedestrians injured in road accidents should be tested by alcohol and drugs
by hospitals.

This would help determine who was to blame for the incident.

"Uniform testing of all alcohol and other drug-impaired pedestrian crash
victims who present at hospital needs to commence immediately," the report
found.

"Just as drivers are held responsible for their actions through active
enforcement, so too should pedestrians."

A government spokesman said the report was being considered.