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The following is issued on behalf of the Road Safety Council:
The Chairman of the Road Safety Council and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Yam Tat-wing, said today (November 29) that the road accident death toll in 2006 dropped to a 49-year low of 144.
Speaking at the Road Safety Campaign launching ceremony, Mr Yam said that compared with other major cities in the world, Hong Kongˇ¦s road accident fatality rate is low.
To reduce traffic accidents, Mr Yam said, the Road Safety Campaign 2007-2008 would continue to adopt the theme "Smart Driving with Courtesy". There will be a series of promotional activities to remind drivers and pedestrians to remain courteous and conscious of their own and other road usersˇ¦ safety.
Among the campaign activities will be a half-hour television special to promote greater awareness of road safety and proper behaviour of road users. Co-organised with Television Broadcasts Limited, the programme will be aired at 11.05pm on December 11 (Tuesday) on TVB-Jade.
Looking ahead, Mr Yam said, the Road Safety Council will continue to join with government departments, District Councils, transport operators and community groups to drive home road safety messages to the public.
The council aims to promote a safe and efficient road system in Hong Kong, minimising traffic accidents and ensuring the safety of all road users, with the vision of achieving zero accidents.
The Chairman of the Road Safety Campaign Committee, Mr Lawrence Yu, and the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Alan Wong, also officiated at the ceremony.
Ends/Thursday, November 29, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:56
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