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Following is a question by Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (December 7) :
Question:
It has been reported that recently a series of traffic accidents were caused allegedly by the dangerous driving of public light bus (PLB) drivers and some PLB passengers not wearing the seat belt as required by the law were killed. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the number of prosecutions instituted against PLB passengers not complying with the legal requirement to wear seat belts since the law came into operation in August last year;
(b) the total number of traffic accidents involving PLBs (including both green minibuses and red minibuses) and the casualties in the past three years, and whether there is an upward trend; and
(c) the total number of traffic accidents in the past three years involving PLBs crossing double white lines, speeding and jumping red lights?
Reply :
Madam President,
The legislation concerning seat belt on public light bus (PLB) came into effect on August 1, 2004. As at November 18, 2005, 781 prosecutions were instituted against PLB passengers who failed to wear seat belts.
The numbers of traffic accidents involving PLBs that result in casualties in the past three years are 1,048 (2002), 958 (2003) and 1,090 (2004). The figures do not show an upward trend.
In the past three years, the numbers of traffic accidents involving PLBs crossing double white lines, speeding and disobeying traffic lights are:
Crossing double Disobeying
Year white lines Speeding traffic lights Total
**** *************** ******** ************** *****
2002 1 19 21 41
2003 0 12 26 38
2004 1 25 30 56
Ends/Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:13
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