An Honduran immigrant talks to relatives on his cellphone after arriving in San Pedro Sula, 200 kilometres north of Tegucigalpa, on June 22, 2018. (AFP PHOTO)

ULAN BATOR, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pedestrians will be not allowed to wear headphones and use cellphones while crossing the road in Mongolia, the government's press office announced on Thursday.

The government approved new traffic rules during its regular meeting on Wednesday in order to ensure pedestrian safety and reduce road accidents.

The new rules, which will come into effect on Nov.1, will also forbid leaving a child under 10-year-old alone in a vehicle, and require children older than 10 to wear a seatbelt or be properly restrained.

In addition, the speed limitation in the country's crowded urban areas will be reduced to 20 km per hour.

A total of 163 people, including 37 pedestrians, were killed in road accidents in the first half of this year, according to official statistics.