*****************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hok-ming and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Yau Shing-mu, at the Legislative Council meeting today (March 18):
Question:
It has been reported that as there are problems with the design of quite a number of roads in Hong Kong, coupled with the factors of terrain and immediate surroundings, traffic accidents are prone to occur on those roads. For example, professional drivers have relayed to me that because of the sharp bend and steep decline at the Kowloon-bound section of Waterloo Road outside the Lion Rock Tunnel, vehicles often need to stop abruptly after the bend, or else they may hit the other vehicles waiting at the traffic lights not far away from the bend. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of traffic accidents which occurred at the road section in question and the resultant casualties in the past three years;
(b) whether proper facilities will be provided at suitable locations at the road section in question (e.g. at the bend) so that drivers will be able to know the road condition behind the bend as early as possible; and
(c) of the number of road sections in Hong Kong with traffic lights not far off from sharp bends, and how many of them have been listed as traffic accident black spots; whether the authorities will review and improve the criteria for installing traffic lights at such road sections to enhance road safety?
Reply:
President,
The design and construction of the roads, traffic signs and road markings in Hong Kong are designed and constructed in accordance with international standards. The Transport Department (TD) also improves traffic facilities and traffic management on an on-going basis to further enhance road safety.
The geographical environment of the Kowloon-bound section of Waterloo Road outside the Lion Rock Tunnel is such that it can be divided into the upper and lower segments, each measuring about 300 metres. The upper segment is an S-shape downslope segment running from Lung Cheung Road Park to the bend near Moonbeam Terrace. Anti-skid surfacing is provided for this segment. In addition, TD has also erected at appropriate locations various traffic signs including "Slow", "Reduce Speed Now", "Steep Hill Downwards Ahead", "Use Low Gear" and "Turn Left Ahead", as well as a series of sharp deviation marking ranging 80-plus metres long to indicate the bend. The lower segment is slightly curved downslope, running from the bend near Moonbeam Terrace to Cornwall Street. It provides satisfactory sight distance along its entire length.
My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows :
(a) During the three years from 2006 to 2008, a total of nine traffic accidents took place on Waterloo Road southbound between Lung Cheung Road Park and Cornwall Street, inflicting minor injuries to one person in each case.
(b) As mentioned above, the upper segment of the road section running from Lung Cheung Road Park to the bend near Moonbeam Terrace has been paved with anti-skid material. Traffic signs have been erected at suitable locations by TD. The sight distance along the lower segment running from the outbend to Cornwall Street is good.
We consider that the existing traffic signs and road markings along the road section are sufficient to remind motorists of matters requiring their attention while driving, and to inform them of the specific road conditions along the way.
(c) Since it is difficult to define "sharp bend", we adopt the shortest sight distance required under different driving speeds as the criteria. The "Shortest sight distance" is the distance between the farthest point of the road that a driver can see and the driver's seat. If there is an obstacle on the road, the distance should be sufficient for a driver to stop his car before the obstacle or to avoid it. We regard this as a safe sight distance. There is relationship between the shortest sight distance and the vehicle speed. For example, the shortest sight distance required for a road section subject to a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour (km/hr) is 50 meters, and that for a road section subject to a speed limit of 70 km/hr is 90 meters. We have reviewed the 62 traffic accident black spots in Hong Kong and found no case of traffic accidents caused by insufficient sight distance at such spots.
Currently, there are about 1,760 sets of traffic lights throughout the territory. The sight distance of their locations generally meets the above requirement. If individual traffic light, due to geographical environment or other reasons, warrants advance warning far ahead, TD will erect suitable traffic signs such as "Traffic Lights Ahead" or "Slow Down Now". The configurations of traffic lights and the design of related road facilities in Hong Kong are generally in line with those adopted by developed regions overseas.
According to the Road Users' Code, motorists should not follow other vehicles too closely and should always keep a two-second time gap with the vehicles in front. Before driving into a road bend, motorists should adjust to a safe speed if necessary in the light of the road conditions. By doing so, motorists will have sufficient time and distance to stop their vehicles properly before a traffic light, or awaiting vehicles or other obstacles that may appear after the bend for different reasons.
Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:45
NNNN
