ENG-2018 — Page 268

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Transport

traffic information to the public, traffic control and support for traffic enforcement. The systems help road users receive traffic data in real time, improve traffic monitoring and control, and strengthen the management of incidents.

Real-time information is available for free through the Road Traffic Information Service and data.gov.hk, the government's public-sector information portal. The Transport Department publishes an annual open data plan on its website which sets out the datasets uploaded to the portal and other datasets to be released in the next three years. The data includes traffic snapshots captured by fixed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at 193 strategic locations, estimated journey times of the various cross-harbour routes and major routes from the New Territories to Kowloon at critical diversion points, traffic speed maps and special traffic news.

The department's all-in-one mobile application HKeMobility and website help users search for public transport information and walking and driving routes, and provide real-time traffic information. People without mobile data services, such as tourists, may make use of 18 Hong Kong eTransport Kiosks installed at 15 locations, including the arrival hall of the airport's Terminal 1, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Peak Galleria and public transport interchanges.

A computerised Area Traffic Control system, connected to almost all traffic signal junctions, is responsive to changing road conditions. The system enables a series of green signals to light up for vehicles passing through the signalised junctions, thus achieving smooth traffic flow by minimising stops and delays. It was linked to 1,871 out of 1,911 road junctions operating with traffic signals at the year end, and will be connected to the remaining junctions progressively. To save costs and conserve the environment, light-emitting diode traffic signals are adopted.

Traffic control and surveillance facilities, such as vehicle detectors, CCTVs, variable message signs, variable speed limit signs and lane control signals, are in place on trunk highways. These facilities are provided in all tunnels and the respective approach roads, the HZMB Hong Kong Link Road, the Tsing Ma and Tsing Sha control areas, Airport Road, Shenzhen Bay Bridge and Tolo Highway, and are being installed on major highways under construction or reconstruction. CCTVs and variable message signs are also found on Kong Sham Western Highway, San Tin Highway, San Sham Road, Tsing Long Highway, Tuen Mun Road, West Kowloon Highway and Yuen Long Highway. About 1,200 more traffic detectors and 19 sets of a new Journey Time Indication System will be installed on strategic routes and major roads. A Traffic and Incident Management System, launched in end-2017, further supports the management of traffic and transport incidents and the public dissemination of information.

To enforce traffic rules, fixed digital red-light cameras are in operation at 196 signalised junctions to combat red-light jumping, while 36 digital speed enforcement cameras are deployed on a rotational basis in 176 fixed camera housings to combat speeding.

Electronic Toll Collection

Except for the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link, all tolled tunnels and the Lantau Link have automatic toll collection (autotoll) systems, allowing motorists with autotoll tags on their vehicles to drive

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