ENG-2004 — Page 331

Transport 281

existing ATC and CCTV systems installed on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin are reaching the end of their serviceable lives and work is currently in progress to replace the Hong Kong Island ATC and CCTV systems with modern ones. The renewal project is scheduled for completion in 2006.

At year-end, 1 684 signalised junctions were in operation, of which 1 258 were controlled by ATC systems.

Automatic Toll Collection

Automatic toll collection (autotoll) systems were first installed at the Cross- Harbour Tunnel and Aberdeen Tunnel in August 1993, and then eventually to all the tunnels and Lantau Link. The systems allow motorists to pay tolls by driving through designated toll booths without stopping. Since October 1998, these autotoll systems were unified so that a subscriber needs only one tag to use all tunnels and toll roads fitted with the system. About 49 per cent of motorists used autotoll when passing through the tunnels and toll roads.

Parking

On-street parking is provided where there is parking demand and traffic conditions permit. At year-end, Hong Kong had about 17 700 metered parking spaces, with electronic parking meter charging in operation mainly between 8 am and midnight from Mondays to Saturdays, and 10 am to 10 pm on Sundays and public holidays. The management and operation of on-street metered parking spaces is contracted out to a private operator.

The Government owns 13 multi-storey car parks and the Sheung Shui Park-and- Ride Public Car Park which together provide about 7 500 parking spaces. They are operated and managed by two private operators under management contracts with the Government.

In addition to government car parks, off-street public parking is provided by the Airport Authority at the airport at Chek Lap Kok, the Housing Department in its housing estates, and the private sector in multi-storey commercial/residential buildings and open-air public car parks. Park-and-Ride facilities are operated by MTRCL at the Hong Kong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi Stations of the Airport Express Line, and at some commercial car parks located near Olympic Station of the Tung Chung Line and Hang Hau Station of the Tseung Kwan O Line; and by KCRC at West Rail Kam Sheung Road Station and at a commercial car park located near Heng On Station of the Ma On Shan Rail. In all, there are 182 000 off-street public parking spaces (excluding those provided by government car parks).

Road Safety

In 2004, there were 15 026 traffic accidents that resulted in casualties, including 160 fatal accidents and 2 519 involving serious injury. The number represented an overall increase of 4 per cent compared with the 14 436 accidents in 2003 (173 fatal and 2 674 involving serious injury). In-depth investigations were carried out at 108 traffic accident 'black spots' to identify common accident causes. Remedial measures were recommended at 89 of these locations.