XN000022-1983-03-06 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1983

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STRATEGY TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE ITS DRIVE TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY TO FURTHER ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE ROAD SAFETY PATROLS OF THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION AT VICTORIA PARK, MR SCOTT SAID A MAIN ELEMENT IN THE STRATEGY WAS TO TACKLE PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS.

+FROM THE END OF THIS MONTH THERE WILL BE A PROGRAMME CONCENTRATING PARTICULARLY ON CHILDREN IN THE FIVE TO 11 AGE GROUP. PUBLICITY EFFORTS TO SHOW THE CORRECT, SAFE WAY TO CROSS A ROAD, WILL BE BACKED UP BY PROVIDING MORE ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM, PARTICULARLY BY THE INTRODUCTION THIS YEAR OF ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION KITS AND

FILM.

+THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE PASSENGERS IN SCHOOL BUSES MUST ALSO BE REMEMBERED AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS URGING OPERATORS OF KINDERGARTENS TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN TRAVELLING TO AND FROM SCHOOL, + HE SAID.

MR SCOTT SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PLANNED TO PROVIDE A SECOND ROAD SAFETY TOWN IN NORTH POINT FOLLOWING THE FIRST ONE IN SAU MAU PING.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID, A PROGRAMME FOR MOBILE ROAD SAFETY TOWNS WOULD BE INTRODUCED NEXT MONTH FOR LARGE ESTATES TO ENABLE MORE CHILDREN TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ROAD SAFETY SKILLS.

MR SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT A USEFUL OPPORTUNITY WOULD ARISE NEXT MONTH WHEN THE ROAD SAFETY DIVISION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD BEGIN COMPUTER PLOTTING TO IDENTIFY ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

+WHEN THE PROBLEM AREAS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION CAN REVIEW ITS DISTRIBUTION OF PATROLS AND CONCENTRATE ITS PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS ON AREAS WHERE CROSSING PATROLS ARE NEEDED MOST, HE SAID.

ON PROGRESS BEING MADE IN ROAD SAFETY, MR SCOTT SAID FATALITIES PER 100 000 POPULATION DECLINED FROM 9.3 IN 1981 TO 8.7 IN 1982.

ALTHOUGH TOTAL CASUALTIES AT 715 PER 10 000 VEHICLES REMAINED STEADY BETWEEN 1981 AND 1982, THIS WAS A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT OVER FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WERE 861 CASUALTIES FOR EVERY 10 000 VEHICLES, HE ADDED.

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