XN000022-1985-11-16 — Page 4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1935

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DOCUMENTARY TO EMPHASISE ON ROAD SAFETY ******

A LOCALLY PRODUCED DOCUMENTARY FILM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY IN HONG KONG WILL BE SCREENED ON TELEVISION TOMORROW (SUNDAY).

PRODUCED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AT THE REQUEST OF THE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL, THE DOCUMENTARY EXAMINES THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND SUGGESTS MEANS FOR REDUCING THE ACCIDENT RATE.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE TEN MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH IN HONG KONG. STATISTICS SHOW THAT IN 1984, ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND 13 SERIOUSLY INJURED ON AN AVERAGE DAY AS A RESULT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

THE DOCUMENTARY CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTENDING THE LEGISLATION ON SEAT BELT WEARING WHEN IT REMINDS THE VIEWER THAT IN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CAR FRONT SEAT CASUALTIES WAS REDUCED BY 16 PER CENT.

THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MOTORCYCLES IS THE HIGHEST AMONG ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENTARY, LAST YEAR, FOR EVERY 100 MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROADS, 15 WERE INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, FOUR TIMES GREATER THAN THE RATE FOR PRIVATE CARS. MANY OF THE VICTIMS WERE STILL LEARNER MOTORCYCLISTS.

IN 1984, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED ACCIDENTS INVOLVING BICYCLES WAS 1 100. OF THIS 21 PEOPLE DIED. MOST VICTIMS WERE TEENAGERS WHO ADMITTED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE.

THE DOCUMENTARY FEATURES INTERVIEWS OF VARIOUS OTHER TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS WHO EXPRESS THE IR FEELINGS AND REVEAL THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE TO FACE AFTER THE ACCIDENTS.

THE PROGRAMME ALSO SUGGESTS WAYS OF REDUCING THE ACCIDENT RATE, BY IMPROVING ROAD DESIGN AND ROAD SIGNS OF TRAFFIC BLACKSPOTS; AND COMPULSORY OFF-STREET TRAINING FOR LEARNER MOTORCYCLISTS.

THE 30-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY WILL BE SHOWN ON RTHK'S +COMMON SENSE+ PROGRAMME TOMORROW (SUNDAY), AT 7 PM, ON TVB JADE'S CHANNEL.