ENG-1994 — Page 307

TRANSPORT

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A brake roller test machine was installed at the Sheung Kwai Chung Vehicle Examination Centre to enhance the checking of New Territories taxis.

With effect from April 1, all medium and heavy goods vehicles manufactured before 1991 must undergo an annual inspection before they can be relicensed.

Annual inspection continued to apply to all public service vehicles and dangerous goods vehicles.

The fees for vehicle examinations at government centres were increased in June, to reflect higher operating costs.

The private car inspection scheme continued to operate at 24 designated car-testing centres. All private cars manufactured before 1988 must pass an annual inspection. Light goods vehicles under 1.9 tonnes were also checked at these garages.

Road Safety

Traffic accidents involving injury decreased by 0.2 per cent in 1994. There were 15 439 accidents, of which 3 279 were serious and 279 fatal. This compares with 15 469 accidents in 1993, of which 3 406 were serious and 336 fatal. In-depth investigations were carried out at 155 traffic accident blackspots to identify accident causes. Remedial accident preven- tion measures were recommended at 150 of these locations.

Similar measures, when implemented, have been shown to reduce accidents by 30 per cent on average.

Accident records are regularly updated, using the microcomputer-based traffic accident data system installed in 1991. Accident statistics and map plots are retrieved, compiled and analysed for traffic accident blackspot analysis and road safety strategy formulation. (Accident statistics are at Appendix 43.)

Following the encouraging results of the red light camera pilot scheme in reducing the number of accidents and red light violations at signal-controlled junctions, the project will be expanded to cover more locations in 1995. The red light cameras automatically detect red light violations at traffic signals.

Road safety campaigns continued to play an important role in reducing traffic accidents. The major themes of the campaigns in 1994 were pedestrian safety, targeted at young people and the elderly; and safety for drivers, targeted in particular at light goods vehicle, private car and motorcycle drivers. Posters, television announcements and leaflets were produced and widely distributed. A series of radio and television road safety programmes were broadcast. In anticipation of new legislation on the fitting and wearing of rear seatbelts in private cars, efforts were made to educate the public on the subject. A new short film on rear seatbelt wearing was produced for future broadcasting on television. A short film on drink- driving was also broadcast as legislative amendments were being drafted to control drink- driving, providing police officers with powers to require a suspected drunk driver to be tested on the roadside.

At the year's end, the Road Safety Association of Hong Kong operated 236 teams of student road safety patrols, while school staff road safety patrols were operated in 558 schools, with the objective of ensuring the safety of school children on their way to and from school.

The Road Safety Council, an advisory body, continued to co-ordinate all road safety matters in the territory.