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Police is committed to promoting road safety through multi-agency efforts and the three-pronged approach of education, publicity and enforcement.
The remarks were made by the Chief Superintendent of Traffic Branch Headquarters, Mr Steve Verralls, when reviewing the road safety situation in Hong Kong in the past ten months of 2012 at a press conference today (December 3).
Mr Verralls said the number of traffic accidents in the first ten months of 2012 was 13,177, representing an increase of three per cent or 341 compared with the same period last year. The number of fatal traffic accidents had decreased by eight to 96.
Overall traffic enforcement actions totalled 1,223,748 in the first ten months of 2012, representing an increase of 16 per cent compared with 1,055,365 in the same period last year.
A total of 791 persons were arrested for drink driving in the first ten months of 2012, a decrease of seven per cent compared with 848 arrested persons in the corresponding period last year.
The number of arrests arising from drink driving-related traffic accidents in the first ten months of this year had however increased to 196 persons, compared with 172 in the same period last year.
Turning to drug driving, Mr Verralls noted that the Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2011 had came into operation on March 15, 2012.
A total of 46 persons were arrested for drug driving in the past ten months of 2012, including 35 arrested after the new law came into operation. Out of the 46 arrested persons, 17 of them were involved in traffic accidents with 11 arrested after March 15, 2012. Thirty one of them were believed to have consumed Ketamine.
For pedestrian safety, a total of 58 pedestrian fatalities were recorded in the past ten months this year, a slight decrease of three per cent compared with the same period last year. It was worthy to note that 64 per cent or 37 of the fatalities were aged 60 or above.
Regarding cycling related accidents, there was a total of 2,180 cases, an increase of 13 per cent over the corresponding period last year. However, the number of fatal cycling accidents had decreased substantially by 47 per cent from 17 to nine.
Police had taken stringent enforcement action against all cycling offences. A total of 9,804 summonses had been issued against cycling offences in the first ten months of 2012, up 43 per cent over the same period in 2011.
"The main causes of traffic accidents include inattentive driving, losing control of vehicle, driving too close to vehicle in front, careless lane changing and careless cycling," Mr Verralls said.
"While campaigns publicising the themes of anti-drink driving, anti-drug driving, pedestrian safety and cycling safety will be organised to drive the messages home, Police will continue to enhance road safety in Hong Kong through enforcement, as well as publicity and education such as school training courses on cycling, road safety bus parade, and community and elderly centre visits."
Police Report No.234
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Monday, December 3, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:27
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