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Question 3
Reply to question by the Hon. F.K. HU
in LegCo on 9.1.85
Question: Can this Council be advised of the number of
summonses, arrests and fixed penalty offences for not wearing seat belts in the front seats of private cars under Traffic (Safety Equipment) Regulations since 1 October 1983, and whether Government is satisfied with the results of enforcement actions?
Secretary for Transport
Sir,
Between the 1st October 1983 and the 30th November 1984, there were 12,237 prosecutions for the offences of driving a private car without wearing a seat belt or driving a private car without the front seat passenger wearing a seat belt. Seven of these prosecutions were by way of arrest; 2,512 by summons action; and 9,718 by fixed penalty tickets. Of the fixed penalty prosecutions, 4,454 were for the drivers personally not wearing a seat belt, and 5,264 were for driving without the front seat passenger wearing a seat belt.
The wearing of seat belts is making an important contribution to reducing the number and severity of front seat casualties in accidents. There was a 14% reduction in the total number of casualties, which included a 15% reduction in the number of fatal or serious injuries, in the six months following the introduction of the compulsory wearing of seat belts, compared with the preceding six months.
I believe, Sir, that these figures indicate a satisfactory level of enforcement by the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, and that it is helping to ensure a high level of compliance with the seat belt wearing legislation.