ENG-2010 — Page 309

Transport | 255

among whom about 9800 drivers were required to attend the course on a mandatory basis. About 80 per cent of the drivers who attended the course did not incur new driving-offence points for six months after the course.

Vehicle Examination

Vehicles are examined routinely to ensure they are safe, roadworthy and properly maintained. All public service vehicles, goods vehicles exceeding 1.9 tonnes, and trailers must undergo annual inspections. In 2010, some 194 000 vehicles were examined at the four government vehicle examination centres. In addition, 3 341 spot checks were carried out on

carried out on franchised buses to confirm their safety, roadworthiness and service standards. Private cars over six years old and light goods vehicles not exceeding 1.9 tonnes are inspected annually at 22 designated car testing centres run by the private sector. These centres carried out 241 000 vehicle examinations.

The Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre has two chassis dynamometers to carry out random checks on smoke emissions from diesel vehicles during annual inspections.

All vehicles imported into Hong Kong must be examined to make sure they meet statutory requirements before they can be registered and licensed. In 2010, of 624 vehicle types approved, 603 went through a simplified procedure that involved examining sample vehicles of the same model.

Electronic payment facilities are now available at all vehicle examination centres, providing additional convenience for users. Vehicle Appointment Status Display Systems have been installed at the New Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre, the Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre and the To Kwa Wan Vehicle Examination Centre, informing people of available booking dates. The booking information is also available on the Internet.

Intelligent Transport Systems

Two new services were launched. A Driving Route Search Service was launched on the Internet in April 2010 for free access by the general public. Intelligent Road Network Packages were launched in November 2010. In addition, the existing Journey Time Indication System on Hong Kong Island was expanded to Kowloon and Eastern District in May 2010.

Closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras are installed at heavy traffic spots to monitor conditions at these places so that drivers can avoid them if possible. The CCTV project to enhance further traffic surveillance and information dissemination was completed in September 2010. There are 333 cameras installed in the urban areas and the new towns and 220 cameras operating on major highways.

More traffic condition images were disseminated to the public. In 2010, images of 140 strategic locations captured by CCTV cameras were made available to the public on the Internet and through their mobile phones. Site installation to cover additional strategic locations is under way.