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Road safety plans for elderly
Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kwok-him and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
According to information provided by the Police, nearly a hundred elderly people were killed in each of the past two years in traffic accidents involving jaywalking. In comparison with other age groups, the elderly age group had the highest death toll in such traffic accidents. In view of this, the Police have indicated that this year's road safety campaigns will be targeted at the elderly age group. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
of the other plans the Police have to enhance elderly people's awareness of road safety, so as to reduce the number of casualties among the elderly age group in such traffic accidents;
whether, to achieve a deterrent effect, the Police will step up prosecution against elderly people for contravening traffic regulations when crossing the roads; if not, why not; and
(c)
Reply:
Mr President,
whether the Police will strengthen road safety campaigns targeted at educating drivers, so as to prevent the occurrence of such traffic accidents?
It is indeed a cause for concern and very worrying that many elderly pedestrians (60 and over) have been killed or injured in traffic accidents. In an attempt to tackle this particular problem, the Police have conducted activities regularly to enhance road safety awareness amongst the elderly. Such activities included:
(i)
launching road safety campaigns targeted at elderly pedestrians;
(ii)
delivering road safety talks at elderly centres;