Engineering and Vehicle Maintenance

Effective road safety involves a cycle of components dependent upon each other; a flaw in any component renders the others meaningless. Throughout this report reference has been to the road users, the drivers and pedestrians alike. But equally important are the vehicles themselves and the roads they travel on.

Site Investigations and Improvements

At sites where common factors leading to accidents are identified, remedial measures can be developed to obviate, or at least minimise, the occurrence of traffic accidents. Remedial proposals are designed to alter the road environment or to provide additional warnings to road users in order to lessen mistakes leading to traffic accidents.

In order to efficiently utilise the available resources, priority is given to sites with higher accident frequency as well as locations where serious traffic accidents have taken place and areas with a lower accident frequencies but where there is general public interest; or areas where there appeal to be sudden rises in the frequency of accidents. There is an also increasing awareness and involvement of the

community in traffic matters, which results in a growing number of request from District Council members and the public for the investigation of a particular location.

        A blacksite list is compiled quarterly by the Transport Department (TD) in accordance with the threshold criteria of:
(i) Six or more traffic accidents involving pedestrian injury for a 12 month period;
     and
(ii) Nine or more injury traffic accidents of any description for a 12 month period.

        During 2003, the department carried out detailed investigation at 150 sites which included blacksites as well as other locations described above.

        Maintaining our road in tip-top condition is also the joint effort by the Police, Transport and Highways departments through the Traffic Accident Reduction Co-ordination Committee (TARCC).

Site investigations are carried out at accident black sites or potential black sites to analyse problems and remedial action is taken to improve the road's safety. Consultation exercises are regularly conducted with District Councils, local organisations and the general public who provide a valuable input into locating and improving potential black sites.

The Black Site Investigation Programme

At the 150 sites investigated in 2003, the remedial measures were usually small scale, low cost schemes which were quick and simple to implement. The black site investigation programme is effective as evidenced by the fact that the number of black sites has been gradually reduced over the years. There were 140 black sites in 1994. With the same threshold criteria as adopted in 1994, the number of black sites in 2003 was 60.

MASS Action

MASS action is the Multiple Application of Standard Solutions to particular accident sites. It is a very useful technique which allows efficient use of limited manpower resources to study accidents. Known effective accident reduction measures can be implemented at a large number of locations with a comparatively small amount of study at each location.

The main solutions currently in use include the application of anti-skid treatment and street lighting improvements to avoid skidding on wet surfaces and accidents occurring at night time respectively.

Area Studies

In such studies, accident situations over a designated area are investigated and may result in comprehensive improvements of the environment of the area or a comprehensive traffic management scheme. Remedial measures may also result in a significant impact on local traffic and transport arrangements.

Ongoing Studies

The Area Study concept was first introduced into the accident investigation and remedy programme in 1999. Two studies have been conducted each year since then. Recommended remedial measures have been gradually implemented. Area Study may be able to resolve otherwise intractable traffic problems. However, remedial measures recommended in an Area Study usually involve area-wide traffic management and take a relatively longer time to agree and implement. The effectiveness of Area Study will be closely monitored.

Improving Road Signage

Clear and timely signage makes a significant contribution to road safety. It is essential that the signs are placed well before a junction and free of visual disturbance, allowing enough time for drivers to decide on their course of action and thus avoiding sudden lane changes.

To further enhance a driver's decision-making process, the Transport Department has successfully completed an exit numbering system and distance (measured in chains) markers project along Route 3. It is expected that the territory's entire expressway system will be fitted out with the new signs during 2004.

Under the new system, drivers can identify their destination via the exit number well before the turn-off. The distance markers provide drivers with their exact location on the highway in the event of an emergency or breakdown. The markers also indicate the highway route number and the direction of travel.

Improving Road Safety at Roundabouts

The Transport Department started a trial at a number of selected two lane roundabouts to test a new set of directional signs and road markings to reduce accidents caused by drivers swerving across lanes when exiting the roundabout. The new road markings indicate a priority for vehicles exiting within the roundabout. The result of trial will be closely monitored.

Autotoll Markings

Autotoll signage and markings at all tunnels are in for a face-lift. Trials have been undertaken at Lion Rock Tunnel since August 2003 with huge stylised "

" markings on the road to steer motorists into the correct lane for autotoll clearance, thus reducing sudden lane changing. Transverse yellow lines were also painted before toll plazas to warn motorists to lower speed.

Engineering Measures

To enhance protection to road users, the Highways Department continued to install crash cushions at greater road divergence points and corrugated steel thrie-beam safety barrier fences at appropriate locations. It also continues to explore and research new road safety products.

Site trials of new safety products continued to be conducted and greater use of truck mounted attenuators on expressways have been introduced to provide more protection to road users and workers. Also, working procedures were further developed and refined to set out safety precautions when carrying out road works on expressways.

A water-filled barrier system was also set up at an emergency opening of Tin Ying Road, Tin Shui Wai, to ascertain its performance on a 70 km/h road. This test installation is designed to absorb the impact force of an errant vehicle running out of track and reduce the severity of damage and personal injury.

Roadworthiness and Vehicle Safety

An unsafe vehicle is very likely to be accident-prone. Bald tyres, faulty brakes, broken rear-view mirrors, poor steering, damaged front/back lights, smoky exhausts and malfunctioning indicator lights are just some of the defects that make a vehicle unsafe to be on the roads. It is therefore imperative that all vehicles be safe on the roads to complete the cycle of road safety.

Vehicle Examinations and Type Approvals:

Before a vehicle is registered, a prototype must normally undergo type approval and be checked to ensure that the vehicle complies with Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations.

Pre-Licensing Inspections:

All vehicles, whether it be for private or commercial use, must be tested for roadworthiness before being issued with a vehicle registration certificate. Vehicles are inspected at authorised inspection depots and if any defects are detected, the road worthiness certificate will not be issued until the defects are rectified. Thereafter, all commercial vehicles and private cars over six years old are subject to annual inspection.

Franchised Buses:

Spot checks and close monitoring of franchised buses have resulted in higher standards of maintenance throughout the industry. There are also call-up inspections of non-franchised buses to ensure their safety and that of their passengers.

School Transport
Vehicles:

Special attention is also paid to the safety of school buses and all operators must hold passenger service licences and passenger service certificates for their vehicles. An inter-departmental working group meets regularly to ensure passenger safety on these vehicles, including installation of safer seats, comprehensive driver training and concerted publicity and education for parents and students.

General Vehicle Safety

Legislation has been passed that passenger safety belts and high back seats be installed on public light buses registered on or after 1 August 2004. Passengers will be required, by law, to strap themselves in when boarding a public light bus with safety belts provided for and it will be the passenger's responsibility to ensure this requirement is met.

Meanwhile, regular liaison meetings are held with transport organisations and vehicle manufacturers to ensure improved safety measures of vehicles. Currently on the agenda is the installation of halogen headlights.

New Route Numbering System Completed

To enhance road safety, the Transport Department completed the route numbering system on all major trunk roads at the end of January 2004. Route numbers are arranged in a more logical manner. The three north-south routes (Routes 1, 2 and 3) pass through the three cross harbour tunnels. The four east-west routes (Routes 4, 5, 7 and 8) have sequences starting from south to north. The circular Route 9 encompasses the New Territories. Motorists can plan their route and make early directions without sudden lane change.