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Non-government Organisations
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Invaluable
support in the running of the Road Safety Council and the
promotion of road safety generally is given by six non-government
organisations (NGOs) — the Hong Kong Road Safety Association,
the Hong Kong Automobile Association, the Institute of Advanced
Motorists Hong Kong, the Chartered Institute of Logistics
and Transport in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Medical Association
and the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers.
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Each has a specific role to play; each is
a specialist in its field, and each is run by professionals, experts
and members knowledgeable in road safety. Their contribution in
the strategies and policies of the Council are immeasurable. By
and large, they are made up of volunteers; men, women and children
who believe in the community they serve and who share the common
objective of making Hong Kong a safer place to live.
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The
Hong Kong Road Safety Association (RSA)
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Thousands of young people take to the
streets each day, protecting their peers, helping others
and above all, influencing others to share a responsibility
towards road safety. These guardian angels are the core
of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol (RSP), whose prime objective
is to promote pedestrian safety in Hong Kong.
The RSP
comes under the auspices of the Hong Kong Road Safety Association
( RSA),
a voluntary organisation formed in 1961 by a group of civic-minded
individuals.
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The
Road Safety Patrol was formed two years after the formation of the
Road Safety Association. Volunteers serve as officers and it is
headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Association's Executive
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It was originally funded by donations
from the public and commercial firms. In 1965 it was officially
recognised by the Government and was awarded an annual subvention
to help defray administrative costs.
The Road
Safety Patrol now boasts 13,664 members from kindergartens,
primary and secondary schools as well as senior citizens
from elderly centres.
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Over the years its pedestrian safety education
programme has evolved to encompass the entire community and now
more and more elderly people, the most vulnerable to pedestrian
accidents, join the youngsters in the Road Safety Patrol. Today
many elderly people can be seen at pedestrian crossings spreading
the message to other pedestrians to ensure the safety of people
crossing the road.
Members of the RSP have helped not only in promoting road safety
in Hong Kong but also to serve the community. They are given the
opportunity to broaden their horizon with chances to meet other
youth road safety groups outside Hong Kong. A website ( www.rsa.org.hk)
has been developed for the exchange of and updating of road safety
information.
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Hong
Kong Automobile Association (HKAA)
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The
HKAA, a strong association of motorists, puts road safety
on the top of its priorities by promoting a proper driving
attitude propagated through its newsletter, seminars and
its website ( www.hkaa.com.hk
).
Formed in 1918 by a group of pioneering motorists sharing
a common interest in vehicle maintenance and road safety,
the HKAA is perhaps the oldest organisation in Hong Kong,
outside the government, promoting road safety. Some 86 years
on it still upholds its original objectives to improve road
safety and traffic flows.
One of its greatest incentives to members is their offering
huge discounts to accident-free careful drivers on their
costly insurance policies. No accidents mean substantial
savings for compulsory third party insurance. Other discounts
are offered to members by the Association.
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Vehicle maintenance is an essential component
of the Association's services with the vision that safe cars make
roads safe. Its depots are among those designated to carry out
road worthiness inspections for vehicle registration.
The HKAA is a member of the Alliance Internationale de Tourisme
(AIT) and the Federation Internationale de l' Automobile (FIA),
whose common concerns are focused on freedom of mobility, safer
roads and cleaner cars. The Association's president attends their
General Assembly each year to share views, knowledge, strategies
and advanced technologies developed by member associations.
The Association's
mission is to help the Government and road users with ongoing
endeavours to reduce traffic accidents. The promotion of a greater
awareness about road safety, combined with sustained enforcement
of laws by the Police, has undoubtedly contributed to the decreasing
road traffic accidents toll in recent years.
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The Institute of Advanced
Motorists Hong Kong (IAMHK)
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Another
representative on the Road Safety Council is the IAMHK,
a non-commercial and non-profit-making group dedicated to
the promotion of advanced driving in Hong Kong.
All members have to pass an Advanced Driving Test of the
Institute to demonstrate their competent control of a car
as well as showing due care to others as expected from a
responsible driver.
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The Institute acts as a bridge between the
Government and the motoring public in the dissemination of road
safety messages and feedback from drivers.
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The IAMHK takes part in most of the campaigns
launched by the Road Safety Council including the on-going 'Smart
Driving' campaign and the Road Safety Vision and Symbol Design
Competitions.
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In 2003, the Institute continued to organise,
as it had done for the past 10 years, the Commissioner for Transport's
Safe Driving Competition and it assisted a number of major companies
and organisations with talks and demonstrations for their drivers.
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The Chartered
Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (CILTHK)
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Also
taking on the responsibility of road safety is the all embracing
CILTHK
which, as the name implies, covers shipping, logistics,
airlines, railways, roads and public transport and its 1,500
members are experienced managers and staff in government,
corporations and consultancies engaged in these fields.
It recognises
that transport and logistics are complementary and highly
interdependent with a big overlap of activities. It is because
of this growth of inter-dependence that the Institute has
undergone a series of name changes to reflect its new role.
The original
Institute of Transport was formed in the UK in 1919 and
received its Royal Charter in 1926. It set up its first
branch in Hong Kong in 1968 and was upgraded to the HK Section
in 1972. On October 1, 1991, it was again upgraded to National
Council status,
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giving it the authority to handle all institute
matters independently. Its membership grew as its interdependence
with allied activities evolved in 2001 it underwent its current
name change to the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
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The CILTHK
sets and maintains professional standards through qualified programmes
and codes of practice, as well as seminars, forums, conferences
and visits for its members. For some time it has participated
in transport and logistics-related public committees and advisory
bodies, offering a professional view on industry matters to the
Government.
Committed to road
safety, the CILTHK
participates in the Council's Road Safety Campaign Committee and
Road Safety Research Committee and became an active member of
the Road Safety Council in August 2001.
Working hand in hand with the Road Safety Council, the Highways
and Transport Departments, Customs and Excise, the Police and
Immigration authorities, the Institute pays attention to the goods
vehicle sector plying our highways with trade across the boundary
points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok with an objective
to enhance road safety and facilitate the dissemination of road
safety messages to the trade.
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The
Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA)
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The
HKMA
provides the Road Safety Council with invaluable medical
knowledge and support in the care and well being of
road users. Its 6,300 member practitioners advise
patients on the possible effects of medications on
drivers, including those which make drivers sleepy
or slow down their reactions, thus impairing their
driving ability.
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Volunteer doctors also help to promote
medical awareness and knowledge of the effects of drink
and drug driving with medical educational programmes using
press releases, publications, radio and TV programmes, lectures
and exhibitions. A monthly newsletter reports on the Association's
activities and comments on controversial medical issues.
Founded in 1920 as the Hong Kong Chinese Medical Association,
it strives to improve standards of medical practice in Hong
Kong while maintaining friendly professional and social
relations amongst registered medical practitioners.
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With its motto — To Safeguard the Health
of the People — the Association actively disseminates to
the Council, its members and the public, medical knowledge gleaned
from its membership of the World Medical Association, the Confederation
of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania and the Hong Kong
Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
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The Hong Kong
Federation of Insurers (HKFI)
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Hyperlinked to the Road Safety Council's
webpage is the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, providing
invaluable information on all motor insurance issues —
third party insurance, no claim bonuses, motor insurance,
cover under adverse weather conditions etc. Special incentives
are also provided for safe drivers and for drivers who voluntarily
attend driving improvement courses.
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The Federation, established in 1988, has 150
members and is recognised as the representative body of the insurance
industry. It consists of two councils: the General Insurance Council
and the Life Insurance Council. Under the General Insurance Council
is the Accident Insurance Association which handles all matters
relating to motor insurance.
During 2003 the federation continued its education programmes
to policyholders with the distribution of leaflets and road safety
messages.
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