| Traffic Accidents Statistics |
The facts
The policies and programmes designed by the Road Safety Council are built around the hard evidence of accident trends and their causes and effects. Traffic statistics are analysed, trends identified and measures to mitigate and prevent repeat accidents are devised.
2008 Statistics
There were 14,576 traffic accidents involving injuries in 2008, resulting in 18,684 casualties. On average, 40 traffic accidents with injuries occurred every day during the year and about three people were killed every week. Compared to the previous year, the number of accidents and the number of casualties decreased by 4.83% and 4.79% respectively. A total of 162 people died in road traffic accidents in 2008, This is the fourth lowest number of fatalities recorded in Hong Kong since 1958.
Drivers - including motorcyclists and cyclists - accounted for the largest number of casualties in 2008, with 8,382 driver casualties (45%) versus 3,823 pedestrians (20%) and 6,479 passengers (35%). Pedestrians accounted for 54% of the overall deaths, while drivers accounted for 29% and passengers for 17% of the total.
Whilst the number of traffic accidents with people incurring injuries has not shown any drastic change in the past decade, there has been a downward trend in the number of fatalities. Categorizing accidents by the type of collision that occurs revealed that in 2008, the number of vehicle collisions involving pedestrians was reduced from 312 in 2007 to 291 cases per month, and that those involving vehicles crashing into another vehicle also decreased from 509 in 2007 to 479 cases per month.
The Road Safety Council monitors accident statistics, their different causes and outcomes. Pedestrians consistently have the highest number of fatalities, while less experienced drivers are most commonly involved in accidents. Private cars are the largest group involved in accidents. Of the 22,004 vehicles involved in accidents in 2008, 5,927 were private cars, compared with 3,926 taxis, 2,806 light goods vehicles, 2,613 motorcycles, 2,047 franchised buses and an assortment of other vehicle classes.
Impact of Road Conditions
Collated statistics show road junctions to have the highest incidence of accidents, with 28% of the total injury-incurred accidents, while 23% of accidents occurred at pedestrian crossings. Darkness plays an important factor in accident occurrence with 31% of accidents happened during darkness.
The top 5 contributory factors in accidents identified
by types in 2008
| |
Contributory Factor – Driver |
|
No. of Drivers |
|
| |
Driving too close to vehicle in front |
|
2,214 |
|
| |
Lost control of vehicle |
|
1,657 |
|
| |
Careless lane changing |
|
1,366 |
|
| |
Swerving/stopping suddenly (to avoid collision or otherwise) |
|
853 |
|
| |
Turning right/left negligently |
|
697 |
|
| |
Contributory Factor - Casualty (Driver, Passenger or Pedestrian) |
|
No. of Casualties |
|
| |
Pedestrian inattentiveness |
|
1,533 |
|
| |
Crossing road heedless of traffic (elsewhere) |
|
843 |
|
| |
Crossing road heedless of traffic (at crossing) |
|
545 |
|
| |
Passenger lost balance, elsewhere except on stairway of bus |
|
502 |
|
| |
Lost balance/fall down when boarding/alighting vehicle |
|
223 |
|
| |
Contributory Factor – Vehicle |
|
No. of Vehicles |
|
| |
Mechanical defect |
|
70 |
|
| |
Unidentified vehicle (hit-and-run) |
|
57 |
|
| |
Broken down with hazard warning lights unlit |
|
18 |
|
| |
Inadequate or no lights |
|
15 |
|
| |
Tyre blown out before impact |
|
14 |
|
| |
Contributory Factor - Accident Environment |
|
No. of Accidents |
|
| |
Slippery road (not related to weather) |
|
128 |
|
| |
Pedestrian negligence |
|
124 |
|
| |
Object or animal in road |
|
116 |
|
| |
Slippery road (caused by weather) |
|
88 |
|
| |
Obstructed road |
|
71 |
|
Our aim is 'Zero Accidents on the Road' but Hong Kong requires the support and commitment of all road users if we are to achieve this objective.
For the detailed statistics, please click here. |
