Source:  Various

Pedestrian safety in Russia is so deficient that the police drafted several 'zebras' to call attention to the issue.  So far in 2010, over three hundred pedestrians have been killed and more than six thousand injured. Many of the accidents occurred while people were crossing in zebra-striped cross-walks.

To call drivers' attention to safety laws, authorities drafted 'zebras' - but they couldn't use the real thing, so they painted horses and ponies for the job. Some of the animals were led around in Moscow carrying signs with messages to drivers about slowing down and paying attention to road safety. Others gave children pony rides.

There was some concern regarding police using painted animals, but they reassured the critics that the paint was water-based and perfectly safe.