LCQ19: Impacts of driving learning and road tests on traffic
************************************************************
Question:
It is learnt that as there are two driving test centres in the Wan Chai district (i.e. So Kon Po Driving Test Centre and Happy Valley Driving Test Centre), the vehicles of learner drivers and driving test (road test) candidates often occupy a number of major roads in the district, causing traffic congestion. There are views pointing out that with the commencement of a number of development projects in the district in the future, the traffic flow will further increase. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of road tests conducted in the two driving test centres in each of the past decade, and the respective percentages of such numbers in the total numbers of road tests;
(2) whether it has compiled statistics on the respective numbers of learner drivers' vehicles occupying the roads in the district in the morning and afternoon of weekdays and holidays;
(3) of the respective numbers of complaints received by the authorities in the past five years about traffic obstruction or noise nuisance caused by (i) the daily operation of the two driving test centres and (ii) driving learning and road tests;
(4) given that some residents in the district have asked for the relocation of the two driving test centres to reduce the impacts on the local traffic, whether the Government has conducted relevant studies and identified suitable sites; if so, of the details (including when the studies were conducted) and the outcome; and
(5) whether the authorities adjusted the road test routes of the two driving test centres in the past decade; whether they have plans to adjust such routes in the future to reduce the impacts on the traffic of the district?
Reply:
President,
The reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Edward Leung is as follows:
(1) At present, the So Kon Po Driving Test Centre (SKPDTC) in Wan Chai District provides road tests for light goods vehicles and motor cycles; while the Happy Valley Driving Test Centre (HVDTC) provides road tests for private cars (Note 1). Both centres mainly serve the needs of learner drivers, who have driver training with private driving instructors, for road tests on Hong Kong Island. The respective numbers of road tests conducted at both driving test centre (DTCs) in the past 10 years and their respective percentages in the yearly total numbers of road tests conducted in Hong Kong are as follows:
| Year | Total number of road tests conducted at SKPDTC (Respective percentage in the yearly total of road tests conducted in Hong Kong) |
Total number of road tests conducted at HVDTC (Respective percentage in the yearly total of road tests conducted in Hong Kong) |
| 2012 | 4 929 (5 per cent) | 4 166 (4 per cent) |
| 2013 | 6 934 (6 per cent) | 5 962 (5 per cent) |
| 2014 | 8 889 (6 per cent) | 8 558 (6 per cent) |
| 2015 | 9 221 (6 per cent) | 9 164 (6 per cent) |
| 2016 | 8 765 (6 per cent) | 8 667 (6 per cent) |
| 2017 | 8 143 (5 per cent) | 7 437 (5 per cent) |
| 2018 | 7 977 (5 per cent) | 8 080 (5 per cent) |
| 2019 | 8 063 (5 per cent) | 8 942 (6 per cent) |
| 2020 | 6 076 (5 per cent) | 5 963 (5 per cent) |
| 2021 | 9 272 (6 per cent) | 8 422 (5 per cent) |
(2) The Transport Department (TD) has been conducting inspections to monitor the driver training activities in the vicinities of the DTCs. For example, inspections were conducted in the vicinity of HVDTC on weekday afternoon in October 2021. Around 90 learner vehicles were observed passing Sing Woo Road near Lun Hing Street per hour without obstructing the traffic.
(3) In the past five years, the TD did not receive any complaint on noise nuisance in respect of SKPDTC or HVDTC. The number of complaints on traffic obstruction caused by driver training or road tests regarding the two DTCs is as follows:
| Year | Number of complaints on traffic obstruction caused by driver training or road tests regarding SKPDTC and HVDTC |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 5 |
(4) and (5) The TD has been taking suitable measures to strike a balance between the need for conducting driver training/road tests on public roads and the impact on the traffic, as well as liaising with the Police to step up enforcement actions on the roads concerned. Regarding the traffic situation in Wan Chai District, the TD has designated certain busy road sections near SKPDTC and HVDTC as areas prohibiting driver training. While similar to the restrictions imposed on all public roads, learner drivers are not allowed to undergo driver training during traffic peak hours (Note 2). Road tests at SKPDTC and HVDTC are generally scheduled by the TD between 9am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday (Note 3), and there is restriction on the number of tests scheduled per hour. Moreover, different routes will be adopted for road tests taking into account the actual traffic situation in order to reduce the impact on the nearby traffic.
The current test routes of SKPDTC and HVDTC have been in use for more than 10 years. When setting and reviewing the relevant routes, the TD has adopted suitable designs with respect to the road conditions in the area. In the light of various development projects in the area and the upcoming construction works at Caroline Hill Road in Causeway Bay, the TD is reviewing the test routes of SKPDTC for making appropriate adjustments as and when necessary. Besides, the TD has reviewed earlier the road sections where driver training is prohibited in the light of the traffic situation in the area, and is arranging the installation of traffic signs at the junctions of Broadwood Road and Tai Hang Road as well as Link Road and Broadwood Road, with a view to prohibiting learner vehicles from entering the road sections concerned. The TD has commissioned the public works departments to take forward the relevant works, and the installation of traffic signs concerned is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.
Prior to the identification of any suitable replacement sites, the TD has no plan to relocate SKPDTC or HVDTC. The two DTCs account for about 60 per cent of road tests for non-commercial vehicles on Hong Kong Island. If they cease operation, the waiting time for the related road tests will be substantially extended. Therefore, the TD considers it necessary to maintain the two DTCs to serve the needs of learner drivers, who have driver training with private driving instructors, for driving test services on Hong Kong Island.
Nevertheless, the TD has spared no effort in identifying suitable sites in the territory for setting up DTCs. This includes the plan to reprovision the driving school cum DTC in Ap Lei Chau (Note 4) to three floors (i.e. from the ground floor to the second floor) of the government joint-user complex under planning at the junction of Shing Tai Road and Sheung Mau Street in Chai Wan, with a view to providing driver training and road tests for private cars, light goods vehicles and motor cycles. The TD will actively explore feasible options for enhancing driving test services, such as utilising the aforesaid reprovisioned DTC to accommodate more of the demands for road tests on Hong Kong Island as appropriate.
The TD will continue to closely monitor the demands for driver training and road tests on Hong Kong Island, as well as the traffic situation in the vicinities of the DTCs concerned and explore feasible measures in a timely manner.
Note 1: There are currently a total of 17 DTCs in Hong Kong providing road tests for different classes of vehicles. Four of them are located on Hong Kong Island, namely Sheung On DTC in Chai Wan, HVDTC, SKPDTC and the DTC in Ap Lei Chau driving school. Sheung On DTC in Chai Wan only provides driving tests for commercial vehicles, while the other three DTCs on Hong Kong Island only provide driving tests for non-commercial vehicles (i.e. private cars, light goods vehicles and motor cycles).
Note 2: Driver training is prohibited during traffic peak hours from Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 9.30am as well as between 4.30pm and 7.30pm, and on Saturday between 7.30am and 9.30am.
Note 3: As some road tests were suspended due to the fifth wave of the pandemic, the TD is arranging make-up tests for some affected candidates on Saturday at HVDTC. Similar arrangements had also been made previously during the pandemic at other DTCs in Kowloon and the New Territories. These arrangements, which are temporary in nature, are expected to end by September this year.
Note 4: The driving school cum DTC in Ap Lei Chau has to be reprovisioned as its site has been rezoned for other uses.
Ends/Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Issued at HKT 14:50
Issued at HKT 14:50
NNNN