The Way Forward
Progress is possible only when we are optimistic about the future and it is the vision of ‘Zero Accidents on the Road, Hong Kong’s Goal’ that drives the Road Safety Council towards realising this worthwhile objective. The Council will continue this meaningful long-term pursuit and address not only current challenges but also emerging challenges. It will continue to adopt a partnership approach in promoting and enhancing road safety in Hong Kong, and to develop education and publicity campaigns that help realise that vision.
Spreading the Safety Message
Following the enactment of the legislative amendments to combat drug driving enacted on 15 March 2012, the Council has stepped up publicity to alert drivers of the possible effects of some common drugs on driving ability and advise them to stop driving when initial signs of driving impairment are recognised. Television and radio APIs will continue to be broadcast. Posters will be displayed and leaflets distributed at various locations including car parks, tunnels and government public counters. Seminars will also be arranged for commercial drivers.
With the assistance of the Transport Department, the Council will publish leaflets to foster cycling safety on carriageways and to promote the wearing of bicycle helmets. The Transport Department will also produce an educational video featuring key safety messages and illustrating proper cycling techniques on roads and cycle tracks.
The Council’s website, which is publicly accessible, will be maintained with the latest news on safe driving and road safety, traffic statistics and other pertinent information.
This Annual Report, which details our activities in the year, will continue to be published along with a series of road safety bulletins focusing on specific road safety themes. The Transport Department will assist in the distribution of these bulletins.
Educating Target Groups
The Transport Department disseminates road safety messages to professional drivers through newsletters, seminars, workshops and regular meetings held with the public transport trades. A safe driving and health campaign will be held to enhance driving behaviour and health awareness among commercial vehicle drivers. Public road safety bulletins on specific road safety subjects will also be produced twice a year. In addition, the Police will continue to conduct seminars and on-street education at traffic accident black spots and boundary control points to reach target groups and raise awareness among them.
Young people are one of the key segments within the target audience of the Council’s promotion campaigns. Working with the Hong Kong Road Safety Association, the Council will continue to raise interest in and awareness of road safety among students. Training courses and lectures on cycling safety and skills are also part of our community youth awareness programme.
The Education Bureau will continue to use the school curriculum to convey road safety messages, supplemented by television programmes and teaching materials focusing on proper road user behaviour. As statistics suggest that the elderly are most vulnerable to traffic accidents, service units of the Social Welfare Department and non-governmental organisations will continue to include road safety as a key message in their community programmes. Bulletins and printed materials will be distributed to the general public to disseminate the road safety message.
