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Police will run a territory-wide pedestrian road safety campaign from tomorrow (June 18) to July 1 to educate pedestrians, in particular senior citizens, on road safety before taking enforcement action against offenders.
The two-week campaign will be launched at the "Elderly Pedestrian Road Safety Campaign Kick-off Ceremony cum Bus Parade in Yuen Long" at Yuen Long Town Hall tomorrow.
During the first week of the campaign, officers from Police Regional Road Safety Teams will distribute publicity leaflets at various locations throughout the territory, including traffic accident blacksites, to enhance pedestrian road safety awareness and appeal to the public to comply with road traffic regulations.
Offenders who have committed minor offences may be given verbal warnings in the first week while enforcement action to deal with jaywalking and pedestrian offences will be taken in the subsequent week.
A Police spokesman said that common pedestrian offences included failing to comply with a light signal on a light signal crossing; crossing within 15 metres of a footbridge or a pedestrian subway without using such facilities; and climbing over a kerbside fence or through a central reservation onto a carriageway. Police will take enforcement action against all pedestrian offenders, irrespective of their age.
Police figures revealed that there were 1,481 pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents during the first five months in 2010, in which 30 persons were killed. Compared with the same period in 2009, there was an increase of two pedestrian casualties and one fatality. Among the deceased, 20 persons or 67% were over the age of 60, the same as in the same period last year.
Police Report No.1
Ends/Thursday, June 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:07
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