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LCQ2: Regulation on use of vehicle horns
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    Following is a question by the Hon Raymond Ho and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (May 23):

Question:

     Under the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations, drivers are not allowed to sound their car horns except to warn other road users of danger. I have received complaints that many drivers sounded their car horns indiscriminately, which not only damages the serenity of the neighbourhood, easily causes traffic accidents by distracting other drivers, but might also give the visitors a bad impression of Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the basis for determining whether an individual road section should be designated as a silent zone; whether it will consider extending the scope of silent zones to cover, in particular, road sections in the vicinity of schools, residential areas and commercial areas; if it will not, of the reasons;

(b) of the number of drivers prosecuted in the past three years by the Police for sounding car horns indiscriminately or in silent zones; and

(c) whether it will step up publicity efforts among drivers to urge them to drop the undesirable habit of sounding car horns indiscriminately?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The existing Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G) (the Traffic Control Regulations) stipulate the regulation on the use of vehicle horn by a driver:

(i) Under regulation 43, a driver shall not use any audible warning device on a vehicle on a road except to warn any person on or near a road of danger; and

(ii) Under regulation 3, the Commissioner for Transport may erect on a road traffic signs to prohibit a driver from using a vehicle audible warning device within a restricted area (the "silent zone"). Under regulation 59, the Police may prosecute any driver who fails to comply with the traffic sign.

     The use of vehicle horns by drivers on any road is already governed by the existing Traffic Control Regulations. Taking into account the need for a driver to use the vehicle horn to give warning to other persons to safeguard road safety under certain circumstances, our primary consideration in designating a silent zone is whether it is necessary to maintain a serene environment in the concerned location most of the time. At present, most of the silent zones are in the vicinity of hospitals.

     We do not have any plans to extend silent zones to other places such as roads in residential or commercial areas for the time being. However, upon receipt of a proposal for designating a particular location as a silent zone, we will assess whether it is necessary to maintain a serene environment at the proposed location most of the time. We will also consult the local community.  

(b) The number of prosecutions instituted by the Police under regulation 43 of the Traffic Control Regulations (that is, improper use of vehicle horns) was 81, 82 and 47 in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively.

     We do not have the number of prosecutions instituted by the Police under regulation 59 of the Traffic Control Regulations (that is, drivers failing to comply with the traffic sign indicating a silent zone). It is because the traffic sign for silent zone is one of the over 300 traffic signs or road markings prescribed under the Traffic Control Regulations. The Police do not have the breakdown of prosecution statistics related to this particular traffic sign.

(c) All along, we are committed to educating drivers and disseminating to them road safety messages. The messages include observing traffic regulations, maintaining a good driving attitude, be on the alert and courteous to other road users at all times.

     Separately, the Transport Department has issued the Road Users' Code, which is also uploaded to the Department's website. Apart from setting out the existing statutory requirements and restrictions on the use of vehicle warning devices, the Code also gives advice on the use of a vehicle horn when the vehicle is in motion or when it stops on the road.

     We will continue to instill a safe and courteous driving attitude among drivers and remind them not to sound horns indiscriminately through leaflets, road safety talks and regular meetings with the transport trades.

Ends/Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:56

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