SINGAPORE -- Pedestrians in Singapore caught walking across bus parking areas may land in jail under tough new rules to be imposed today that hope to minimize accidents involving jaywalkers.

The city-state, known for imposing stiff fines for littering and spitting in public, said jaywalkers caught taking short cuts will face fines of up to 500 Singapore dollars ($285 U.S.) for their first offense.

They could also wind up in court and be given penalties twice that or sentenced to three months in jail.

Repeat offenders could face a maximum 2,000-dollar fine or six months in jail.

"This new offense was recently introduced in the Road Traffic Act, to deter jaywalking and to ensure public safety at bus interchanges and terminals," the Land Transport Authority said on its website, AFP reported. "This was so as there were many accidents involving jaywalkers at bus interchanges."

Four people have been killed and 34 others injured in jaywalking accidents at bus stations in the last three years.