RSC and TBHQ remind the public not to drive after drinking during festive season
To enhance the public's awareness of drink driving during Christmas and New Year, the Road Safety Council (RSC) and the Police Traffic Branch Headquarters (TBHQ) conducted a series of anti-drink driving publicity activities between December 2012 and January 2013. On 13 December, RSC and TBHQ conducted the Anti-drink Driving Launching Ceremony 2012 at Lan Kwai Fong, which was officiated by Dr Eric CHENG, Chairman of Road Safety Campaign Committee, Mr Stephen VERRALLS, CSP T, Mr Robert CHUI, Commissioner of Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol and Mr Stephen BAKER, SP A T.
At the ceremony, Dr CHENG said that anti-drink driving was one of the main themes of the RSC, and that the RSC had been working closely with the Police to enhance road safety knowledge amongst the public through publicity and education. TBHQ officers demonstrated the new dual mode Drager Alcotest 6810 device to the public, which could be used for conducting both pre-screening and screening breath tests, and which had been in use by the Police since July 2012.
After the ceremony, the officiating guests proceeded to bars and restaurants at Lan Kwai Fong to distribute leaflets and souvenirs. Some members of the public who had consumed alcohol were invited to take the random breath test and showed great interest in the readings produced by the dual mode Drager Alcotest 6810 device.
The number of drivers arrested in traffic accidents involving drink driving in the first 11 months of 2012 was 210, representing an increase of 9% when compared with 192 in the same period last year. During the Festive Season, the Police strengthened publicity and enforcement action against drink driving. After the launching ceremony, members of the RSC and Regional Road Safety Teams distributed leaflets and souvenirs in bar areas such as Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai, Yau Tsim Mong, Sai Kung and Yuen Long. RSC has liaised with over 50 restaurants and bars to distribute anti-drink driving leaflets to their patrons. In addition, radio APIs, bus advertisements and banners at various flyovers are also means of promoting the anti-drink driving message across the territory.
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