*****************************************************
The Police will hold a one-week territory-wide pedestrian road safety operation from tomorrow (October 13) to October 19, with a view to reducing traffic accidents involving pedestrians, in particular senior citizens.
Enforcement action will be taken during the operation. Police will issue summons against pedestrians who have blatantly jaywalked or committed other serious traffic offences.Verbal warnings will be given to those who have committed minor traffic offences.
Officers from the Police Regional Road Safety Teams distributed publicity leaflets at various locations in the territory prior to the operation period to enhance pedestrians¡¦ road safety awareness and urge the public to comply with road traffic regulations.
A Police spokesman said that common pedestrian offences included disobeying light signals; crossing within 15 metres of a footbridge, pedestrian subway or pedestrian crossing without using such facilities; and climbing over a kerbside fence or through a central reservation onto a carriageway.
Police figures showed that from January to August this year, there were 2 310 pedestrian casualties with 57 fatalities. Among the deceased, 38 were aged 60 or above. Compared with the same period in 2014, casualties, overall fatalities and fatalities (aged 60 or above) increased by 0.4 per cent, 50 per cent and 46 per cent respectively.
Ends/Monday, October 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:26
NNNN
