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To promote road safety, police stepped up their anti-drink driving education and publicity campaign and enforcement operations during the World Cup Period between June 11 and July 13.
Police have conducted 828 anti-drink driving operations and arrested 149 drivers during this year's World Cup period. During the same period in 2009, Police carried out 155 operations with arrest of 88 drivers.
Moreover, a total of 47 publicity and educational events were arranged by Police Road Safety Teams in conjunction with community partners, including the Road Safety Patrols and District Council members, and over 61,000 publicity leaflets were distributed at pubs and entertainment premises.
Traffic accidents involving drink driving reduced significantly by 52% this year from 25 to 12 when compared with the same period last year.
Motorists are reminded not to drive after consuming alcohol. Offenders will be liable to three years imprisonment, a fine of $25,000, and disqualification from driving for a period not less than three months on first conviction and not less than two years on second and subsequent convictions. Drivers convicted of drink driving offences will incur 10 driving offence points and are required to attend a Driving Improving Course.
Since the enactment of the Road Traffic Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 which empowers the police to conduct Random Breath Tests from February 9, 2009 and up to July 13 this year, 80,289 drivers were stopped and required to perform random breath tests; 442 drivers were either found to have proportions of alcohol which exceeded the prescribed limit or they refused to be tested. These drivers have been or will be charged with the relevant offences.
A Police spokesman emphasised that drivers may not be insured if they are convicted of drink driving offences.
Police Report No. 8
Ends/Thursday, July 15, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:01
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