SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1985
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RISE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ELDERLY ****
ALTHOUGH TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND CASUALTIES STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN A CONTINUOUS DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS, THE INCREASE IN ROAD TOLLS INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS AGED OVER 60 IS STILL A MATTER OF CONCERN FOR ALL.
MR PAANG KUI-SAN, ACTING POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER, YAU MA TEI MADE THIS REMARK AT THE OPENING OF THE 1985/86 YAU MA TEI ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN HELD AT KOWLOON PARK THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON.
HE REVEALED THAT A TOTAL OF 3 746 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND 5 041 CASUALTIES WERE RECORDED IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, REPRESENTING A DROP OF 7.6 PER CENT AND 8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY WHEN COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1984.
ACCORDING TO POLICE STATISTICS, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THE ELDERLY PERSONS OFTEN HAPPEN IN URBAN AREA WHERE THERE ARE BUSY AND FAST TRAFFIC FLOWS.
''OTHER FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE RISE IN CASUALTIES ARE THE ELDERLY PEOPLE'S SLOWNESS TO RESPONSE AND THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON ROAD SAFETY CODES AND PROPER USE OF PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AND SUBWAYS, THUS CROSSING THE ROADS AT INAPPROPRIATE TIME, MR PAANG SAID.
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"'IN VIEW OF THIS, THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN IS AIMED AT ENHANCING
HE THE EDUCATION OF THE AGED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY, CONTINUED.
ALSO CAUSING CONCERN IS THE INCREASE OF ACCIDENTS AT ROAD JUNCTIONS DESPITE THE REDUCTION IN OVERALL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
THIS IS DUE TO THE PEDESTRIANS' NEGLIGENCE AND THE DRIVERS' FAILURE IN OBEYING TRAFFIC REGULATIONS,''
''IMPROPER AND POOR VEHICULAR USE AND MAINTENANCE WILL PLACE NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT ALSO THE PASSENGERS AND PEDESTRIANS AT RISK, MR PAANG SAID.
HE THUS APPEALED TO ALL CAR OWNERS TO SEND THEIR CARS TO REPUTABLE GARAGES FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE.
''CYCLISTS WHO ARE ANOTHER TARGET GROUP OF THIS CAMPAIGN ARE USUALLY VULNERABLE TO ROAD ACCIDENTS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM LACK ROAD SENSE AND KNOWLEDGE ON PROPER RIDING ON THE ROADS,' MR PAANG POINTED OUT.
HE NOTED THAT THIS PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT IN YAU MA TEI DISTRICT AS MANY OF THE LOCAL SHOP OWNERS USED TO EMPLOY THE USE OF BICYCLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DELIVERING GOODS.
/HOWEVER, THESE