XN000022-1983-07-10 — Page 9

SUNDAY, JULY 10, 1983

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EFFORT MADE TO REDUCE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS OVER THE YEARS TAKEN MEASURES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PHILIP CHOK, SAID TODAY.

THESE INCLUDED MORE STRINGENT LAW ENFORCEMENT, SUCH AS MAKING THE WEARING OF SEAT BELTS COMPULSORY, PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND THE BUILDING OF FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS TO SEGREGATE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

MR CHOK WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE WONG TA! SIN DISTRICT ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN AT THE CHOI WAN COMMUNITY CENTRE.

HE NOTED THAT LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 24 297 CASES OF INJURIES AND DEATHS RESULTING FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AN INDICATION THAT THE PROBLEM WAS VERY SERIOUS.

PEDESTRIAN AND DRIVER NEGLIGENCE WAS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENTS, HE SAID.

MR CHOK ALSO ATTRIBUTED THE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS TO THE SEVERE SHORTAGE OF ROAD SPACE, THE GROWTH IN NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND THE DENSITY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

+ IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION IS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO LOWER THE ACCIDENT RATE, HE SAID,

+A ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN IS, THEREFORE, ORGANISED EVERY YEAR TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC TO BE MORE CAREFUL IN THE USE OF ROADS.+

EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS.

THEY INCLUDE A MOBILE ROAD SAFETY TOWN, ROAD SAFETY EXHIBITIONS, THE SELECTIONS OF MODEL PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS, A SLOGAN COMPETITION, A COLOUR LNG CONTEST AND FILM SHOWS.

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