Traffic accident fatalities in 2014 might drop to a record low since 1955, Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Wong Chi-hung predicted at the Road Safety Council (RSC) 41st Anniversary Ceremony cum Elderly Road Safety Campaign 2014 held on November 22.

 

Speaking at the ceremony in the capacity of RSC Chairman, Mr Wong reported that thanks to the joint effort of the RSC, stakeholders and the public, Hong Kong's road network is among the safest ones in the world. This could best be illustrated by the fact that traffic accident figures continued to decrease despite an increase in vehicles on the roads, he noted.

 

In the first 10 months of 2014, Mr Wong continued, traffic accident fatalities decreased by 20 percent, compared with the same period of 2013. And the fatalities in 2013 were one of the lowest records in the past 50 years. If this good record could be maintained, the number of fatalities in 2014 would be the lowest since 1955. 

 

Nevertheless, Mr Wong pointed out, elderly pedestrian safety remained a concern, with 38 elders aged 60 or above killed in the first 10 months of 2014, accounting for 46 percent of all traffic accident fatalities. To address this situation, the RSC had organised a number of activities to promote the concept of elderly pedestrian safety, including the "Elderly Road Safety Quiz Competition" for 39 centres for the elderly in partnership with RTHK between July and November. A Senior Police Call team was invited to compete with the winning team at the ceremony.

 

Mr Wong went on to say that police statistics showed that the main cause of traffic accidents was "drivers and pedestrians paying little attention to using the roads".  Therefore, the RSC would launch new TV and radio Announcements  in the Public Interests and distribute posters and leaflets to boost the safety awareness of drivers and pedestrians. 

 

Officiating at the ceremony with Mr Wong were the Chairman of the Road Safety Research Committee, Deputy Commissioner for Transport, Mr To Kam-biu, and the Chairman of the Road Safety Campaign Committee, Dr Cheng Kam-chung. Artistes gave a singing performance and disseminated road safety messages to the audience.

 

In another effort to support the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 16, Traffic Branch Headquarters and all Traffic Formations mounted a series of publicity campaigns. Officers from all Regional Road Safety Teams distributed fliers at black spot locations within their regions to call on cyclists to pay more attention to cycling safety. Traffic New Territories North also hosted the New Territories North Safe Driving Campaign Kick-off Ceremony cum Carnival on that day at the Tai Po Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square, focusing on the importance of safe driving with a view to reducing traffic accidents.