XN000022-1986-06-22 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 1986

1

ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN AIMED AT ELDERLY

****

THE SPECIAL TARGET FOR THE 1986-87 ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN 1S THOSE AGED 60 AND ABOVE, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR (TRAFFIC), ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, MR JOHN CLEMENCE, SAID AT THE OPENING OF THE ROAD SAFETY DAY HELD AT THE KWUN TONG RECREATION GROUND TODAY (SUNDAY).

NOTING THAT ACCIDENTS INVOLVING OLD PEOPLE HAD INCREASED LAST YEAR. MR CLEMENCE SAID: +1T HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT MANY OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE NOT HAD THE BENEFIT OF ANY FORM OF ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG AND THAT MANY GREW UP IN A RURAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH DID NOT ENVISAGE THE TRAFFIC DENSITY AND BUSTLE OF PRESENT DAY HONG KONG.+

+BUT EVEN IF THESE TWO REASONS ARE CORRECT, THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF A NEW FIRST GENERATION OF MOTOR ISTS WHO DO NOT APPRECIATE THE SPECIFIC DIFFICULTIES THAT CERTAIN SENIOR CITIZENS FACE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE ROADS,+ HE ADDED.

MR CLEMENCE SAID THAT ALL THESE FACTORS HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN PLANNING THIS YEAR'S PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN.

OTHER TARGETS OF THIS YEAR'S ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN ARE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14, YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND CYCLISTS.

MR CLEMENCE SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN UNDER 14 INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REMAINED DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH.

+EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION KITS DESIGNED FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED, KITS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THIS YEAR AND A KIT FOR KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN IS BE ING DESIGNED, HE SAID.

ANOTHER AIM OF THE CAMPAIGN IS TO MAKE YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED MOTORISTS, WHO USUALLY FAIL TO ANTICIPATE THE DANGERS AHEAD, STAY ALERT WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADS,

THE OTHER MAJOR TARGET GROUP FOR THIS YEAR WOULD BE CYCLISTS, INCLUDING THOSE USING CYCLES PROFESSIONALLY.

+PROFESSIONAL CYCLISTS ARE THOSE WHO WE SEE DAILY DELIVER ING MEAT, VEGETABLES AND GOODS WHO CONSISTENTLY IGNORE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ROAD DIRECTION SIGNS,+ MR CLEMENCE SAID.

APART FROM DISTRICT AND TERRITORY-WIDE FUNCTIONS, THE FULL RANGE OF AVAILABLE MEDIA INCLUDING POSTER DISPLAY, BUS ADVERTISING, LEAFLETS, RADIO AND TELEVISION API'S (ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC INTEREST, WILL BE UTILISED TO RUN THIS YEAR'S ROAD SAFETY PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN.

/TODAY'S