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'Accurate' laser guns return
 Laser write-up: A Traffic officer takes to the North Lantau Expressway to prepare for the resumption of laser gun operations |
Laser speed-detection guns are back on the roads as doubts over their accuracy were rejected by an independent expert.
The equipment was re-introduced on April 1, having been suspended since November after a court case saw questions raised over the reliability of their evidence.
Tests conducted recently by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) found the guns to be effective and accurate.
Chief Superintendent (Traffic) Tang How-kong said: "In response to a suggestion raised in the Court of Appeal, Police asked a professor from the HKUST's Physics Department to thoroughly examine the laser guns during the suspension period. The expert confirmed the equipment was reliable in terms of consistency and accuracy."
Although other equipment such as Automatic Speed Enforcement cameras, radar speed detectors and in-car video systems, were still used in operations during the suspension, prosecution figures for speeding dropped 28.3 per cent to 46,450 from November to February, over the previous corresponding period.
 CSP T Tang How-kong meets the press |
"Meanwhile, the number of traffic accidents increased 11.8 per cent to 4,914 during this period. However, there is no direct evidence to show the increase was due to the suspension," Mr Tang added.
He said police were confident the re-introduction of the lasers would help deter traffic accidents, saying they have been used by overseas forces for years and proven effective.
He stressed the aim was to ensure safety not just for drivers but for all road users, and to further crackdown on accidents, 250 additional sets of breath-screening devices were recently acquired along with six more in-car video systems.
"Police have also been working closely with the Transport Department to acquire additional sets of red light cameras," he added.
Rigorous enforcement action would continue and he called on all road users to observe road-safety regulations.