*
15
involved in serious accidents are inspected and spot-checks are made on other vehicles, particularly those in apparently poor condition. These inspections have contributed to a general improvement during the year in the mechanical standard of vehicles, particularly goods and public vehicles. Further details are at Appendix 28.
ROAD ACCIDENTS
165. There were 14,213 road accidents of which 191 were fatal. Comparative figures for the five years since 1958-59 are as follows:
+
Fatal
Serious
Slightly injured Damage only
1958-59 1959-60 1960-61 1961-62
1962-63
154
177
196
206
191
1,086
1,179
1,756
1,917
1,959
4,517
5,275
5,081
5,250
5,260
8,166
8,922
7,618 7,634
6,803
13,923 15,553 14,651 15,007
14,213
TRAFFIC OFFENCES
166. There were 89,475 prosecutions. Appendix 29 shows the trend over the last five years.
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
167. There has been a further increase in the volume of traffic and additional measures have been imposed to ensure control over the increasing concentration of vehicles. Continued building redevelopment in the busiest areas has aggravated this problem, necessitating the restricted use of some main thoroughfares and the closing of several roads to enable the installation of public services. Despite these difficulties in the central areas traffic flow has been maintained at a reasonable level even at peak periods.
168. 1,535 new parking meters have been installed in the Central District of Hong Kong and Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. Parking in the Central District has also been relieved by temporary use of the open ground on Garden Road formerly occupied by Murray Barracks. The new Garden Road multi-storey car park opened on 22nd March, 1963 provides accommodation for 700 vehicles and brings the total number of parking spaces in the Central District alone to 3,500.
169. The total number of metered spaces in operation at the end of the year was 2,016. Public car parks provided a further 3,383 places.
29