To maintain road safety and smooth traffic flows, Traffic Branch keeps upgrading the equipment, facilities and training for traffic units, in addition to using education, publicity and traffic enforcement.

 

For maintaining a technical edge, traffic officers have been provided with another 10 new MRCD radar speed detectors to phase out Multanova 6Fs using wet film. The digital radar system enhances evidence collection in field operations and simplifies uploading of offence data onto the Automated Non-stopper Traffic Enforcement Computer System. This is another new equipment after 23 TruCam laser speed detectors were introduced in 2013. With newly purchased traffic vehicles expected to arrive early this year, 22 additional Provida in-car video recording systems will be available for traffic formations to complement their speed detection capability.

 

Following a successful trial, procurement of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is now underway with a projected rollout in March this year.  The ANPR will allow officers to locate "Disqualified Registered Owner", "Traffic Arrest Warrant" and "Expired Vehicle Licence" offenders. 

 

The two-month E-Ticketing Pilot has concluded successfully. Work is now underway to put the Personal Digital Assistant, printer and computerized back-end system into service by 2017.

 

Safety checks on suspicious vehicles and accident technical investigations are undertaken by Motor Vehicle Examiners seconded from Transport Department. In order to provide updated facilities for them, building works are underway on the new Kowloon Bay Vehicle Pound, with completion scheduled for the spring of 2015. After opening of this new Vehicle Pound, the one in Ho Man Tin will close.

 

With a view to standardising and further professionalising training in enforcement equipment, a Traffic Training Unit will be set up at the Police Driving & Traffic Training Centre. Preparation work is underway for transfer of training equipment from Traffic Branch Headquarters.

 

Speaking of the many changes in the pipeline in traffic policing, Chief Superintendent (Traffic) Paul Stripp commented: "It is good to see that despite an increasing number of vehicles on the road, the number of accidents remains stable and this is in no small part due to the considerable efforts made by our frontline traffic officers. We will continue to upgrade our equipment and personnel skill sets to meet the ongoing challenges."