Chairman's Foreword

The Road Safety Council (the Council) reached its 44th Anniversary this year and it gives me great pleasure as the Chairman of the Council to present its Annual Report for 2017.

In 2017, there were about 20,000 additional registered vehicles on Hong Kong’s roads, to make a total of 839,882*, a 2.7 percent rise. The number of fatalities in traffic accidents decreased by 18% from 132 to 108, whilst the total number of casualties was 19,888, similar to the previous year’s figure of 20,132.

Taking into account the causation factors of traffic accidents in 2016, the five main themes of road safety publicity were continued in 2017. They are Elderly Pedestrian Safety, Cycling Safety, Anti-Drink Driving and Anti-Drug Driving, Driving Attentively and Student Pedestrian Safety.

Elderly Pedestrian Safety

Elderly pedestrians (aged 65 and above) remained the most vulnerable group prone to traffic accidents among all pedestrians. Of the 108 fatalities in 2017, 37 were elderly pedestrians. The Council believes that the participation of the elderly and related organizations in road safety education is instrumental to our ongoing efforts. To raise awareness among the elderly, the Council partnered with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) to hold a phone-in road safety quiz competition to disseminate the message of Elderly Pedestrian Safety in 2017. Forty teams from elderly centres were invited to participate in the competition. Officiated by the Road Safety Campaign Committee (RSCC) Chairlady, the final round was held in January 2018 together with a drama show with performances by Road Safety Ambassadors and elderly people. It was an entertaining and successful way of conveying road safety messages about the elderly to the public.

Cycling Safety

In view of the continued popularity of cycling, Cycling Safety remains one of the Council’s key priorities. The Council continued to employ qualified trainers to deliver cycling safety training courses to students of 43 primary schools, 18 secondary schools and 4 youth related non-governmental organizations. These courses were well received by the trainees, the parents and the participating schools. In addition, the Council alongside Police Road Safety Teams organized the ‘ Tsuen Wan District Road Safety Carnival’ at Sha Tsui Road Playground, Tsuen Wan including promotion of cycling safety.

Anti-Drink Driving and Anti-Drug Driving

In 2017,”Anti Drink and Drug Driving” remained the focus of the Council. Concerted efforts to publicize and educate road users continued. Promotional banners on flyovers, bus body advertisements, APIs as well as social media were deployed to remind motorists of the tragic impacts of Drink Driving and Drug Driving on the community.

There was an encouraging year-on-year drop in the number of drink driving related traffic accidents. Stressing the serious consequences of drink driving, promotional banners and stickers, Television and Radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) and social media reinforced the message of “If you Drink, Don’t Drive!”. In October 2017, the Council in partnership with traffic officers from the Hong Kong Police Force conducted an Anti-Drink Driving publicity campaign in Lan Kwai Fong promoting the message of “If you Drink, Don’t Drive!”. In December 2017, the Council in partnership with Police Road Safety Teams organized the ‘No Drug No Drink Driving and Attentive Driving Bus Parade’ at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, attracting wide media coverage.

Driving Attentively

As driving inattentively has been the top causation factor for driver related traffic accidents over the years, the Council continued to promote Driving Attentively to remind drivers to stay alert whilst driving. TV and Radio APIs, posters and leaflets were produced in 2017 to promote the messages of (i) driving attentively and (ii) always be prepared for unforeseen circumstances arising on roads, particularly in the vicinity of road works. In November 2017, the Council and Police Road Safety Teams jointly held the ‘Attentive Driving Kick-off Ceremony and Light Rail and MTR Bus Road Safety Campaign’ in Tuen Mun. The event was successful in reminding the public about road safety and attentive driving.

Student Pedestrian Safety

In the past few years, the casualty rate of student pedestrians (aged 10 to 14) was the second highest when comparing with other age groups. The Council continued to promote Student Pedestrian Safety as one of the five main themes of road safety publicity.

Looking Ahead

In response to several serious traffic accidents that occurred in 2017, the Council decided to enhance publicity to arouse public awareness on the importance of driving attitude by producing TV and radio APIs, posters and leaflets. The Council will continue to be proactive in conveying its road safety messages to the public.

Lastly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our Council members who again selflessly provided their professional advice and wholeheartedly supported our efforts in mobilizing the community to improve road safety. The Council faces increasing challenges with more vehicles on the road, but I am confident that with our concerted efforts we will make our roads safer. We will strive to achieve our vision – ‘Zero Accidents on the Road, Hong Kong’s Goal’ in collaboration with our community partners.

LAU Yip-shing
Chairman
Road Safety Council