Traffic Accident Statistics
An analysis of Hong Kong’s traffic accident statistics for 2011 reveals that there were 15,541 traffic accidents with 19,803 resultant injuries. On average, 43 traffic accidents with injuries occurred each day during the year and about three people were killed each week. Compared with the previous year, the number of accidents and the number of casualties were also increased by 4% approximately.
Categorising accidents by collision type reveals that in 2011 the number of vehicle collisions involving pedestrians decreased slightly from 3,591 cases in 2010 to 3,489 cases in 2011. Cases involving a vehicle colliding with another vehicle increased from 5,986 cases in 2010 to 6,338 cases in 2011.
Whilst there has not been any significant change in the past decade in the number of traffic accidents involving injuries, there is a downward trend in fatalities. A total of 130 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2011, the second lowest number recorded in Hong Kong since 1955.
The Council studies causes and consequences of traffic accidents and maintains a comprehensive traffic accident database to help formulate road safety strategies. Clearly, pedestrians consistently suffer the highest number of fatalities while private cars are the largest group involved in accidents. Of the 23,733 vehicles involved in traffic accidents in 2011, private cars accounted for 6,591, compared with 4,259 taxis, 2,689 light goods vehicles, 2,629 public buses, 2,328 motorcycles, 2,500 bicycles and 2,737 other vehicle types. It is however noted that private cars amount to the highest number of vehicles registered in Hong Kong, being 68%, follow by goods vehicle (17%) and others (15%).
Impact of Road Conditions
Statistics show that 26% of the traffic accident related injuries occurred at road junctions while 26% occurred at pedestrian crossings. Some 29% of traffic accidents happened at night time whilst another 4% happened at dawn or dusk.
Top 5 contributory factors in traffic accidents 2011
(from four perspectives)
