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Handy dial-for-help on highways
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Whom will you ask for help while you have vehicle problems on a highway where no immediate help is in sight?
The fast moving traffic and fewer exits of Hong Kong highways prohibit you or your passengers from walking a long distance for help when your vehicle breaks down or involves in an accident.
At this point of time you would expect to be seen by a passing-by traffic police or to call the police by using your mobile phone.
However, Lady Luck may not be on your side as minutes gone and there is no sight of traffic police or you don't have a mobile telephone at hand, or it is not functioning for low battery or you are in a "blind spot" of your phone network.
To overcome this and provide instant assistance for motorists, a series of emergency telephone systems (ETS) have been installed at key locations along strategic road network (SRN) in the territory by the Government.
The Transport Department's Senior Engineer/Highway Surveillance and System, Mr Tsang Yun-wing, said today (Sunday) that more than 497 emergency telephones had been installed on major roads in Hong Kong since 1977 to help motorists.
He said: "Emergency telephone provides direct voice communications between motorists and the respective Police Control Centres. It is one of the most commonly used traffic surveillance facilities, which has been used successfully in many other countries.
"The two-way communication also assures the caller that his report of traffic accident or request for assistance has been acknowledged so that speedy response and service can be provided."
The ETS have been coming through three generations since 1977 changing from the direct line-to-connection panel mode in the first generation; line-to- concentrator-electronic console in the second generation; and to the present generation of line-to-concentrator-computer system to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
The latest system, when activated, can show on the computer screen the location of the caller and provide with better audibility.
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