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Following is a question by Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, in the Legislative Council today (March 6):

Question : As the directional signs of traffic lanes vary at different toll tunnels in the territory and some are even ambiguous, drivers might be misled and get in wrong lanes, resulting in traffic accidents. Besides, most of the toll tunnels have no underground pedestrian links, posing safety hazard to tunnel staff going between toll booths and the administration buildings. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective numbers of complaints received by the authorities about ambiguous directional signs of toll lanes and traffic accidents attributable to such ambiguous signs in the past three years;

(b) whether it knows if the tunnel management companies concerned have considered improving the directional signs for toll collection; if this has been considered, of the details; and

(c) whether it knows if the tunnel management companies concerned have any plans to provide underground pedestrian links for tunnels which have no such facilities at present; if there are such plans, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Madam President,

In the past three years, Transport Department (TD) has received nine complaints about directional signs and road markings for toll lanes at tunnels. During this period, 2,845 accidents occurred at the toll plazas of the ten tolled tunnels in Hong Kong. We do not have a breakdown of statistics on the number of accidents at tunnels due to "ambiguous directional signs".

The traffic aids for tunnels are considered generally adequate. Directional signs for toll collection are provided to channelise the vehicles to the various toll lanes. Improvements to existing traffic signs and road markings are made from time to time to further enhance safety for motorists and tunnel staff. Such enhancement measures include the provision of:

(i) additional traffic aids to inform motorists of the locations of autotoll lanes; (ii) yellow traverse lines road markings to remind motorists to reduce speed on approaching the toll booths; and

(iii) additional traffic aids to alert motorists to reduce speed on approaching the toll booths.

Underground access to the toll booths for use by tunnel staff are provided at Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, Aberdeen Tunnel and Tai Lam Tunnel. Footbridges for tunnel staff to cross the toll plaza areas are provided at Western Harbour Crossing, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Cross Harbour Tunnel and Tate's Cairn Tunnel.

Currently no pedestrian subway or footbridge is provided at Lion Rock Tunnel and Shing Mun Tunnels. Site constraints at the two tunnels make the provision of subways directly from the administration building to the toll booth area difficult. TD will examine the feasibility of providing footbridges for the tunnel staff at both tunnels.

All tunnel companies have further issued guidelines to their staff on how to perform their duties in a safe and efficient manner. Depending on their duties, tunnel staff are provided with reflective vests, white sleeves and flashing torches and vehicles to ensure their safety whilst on duty. Prior to each shift, staff will also be briefed by their supervisors on matters they need to attend to, including a reminder on strict observance of the established safety rules and procedures at the toll plaza.

End/ Wednesday, March 6, 2002

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