Legislation and Enforcement

Traffic regulations address the mutual relationships among road users and also the relationship between road users and their surroundings. They aim to promote the safe and smooth flow of traffic on roads. Breaches of regulations are addressed through police enforcement.

Enforcement action continued to focus on reducing traffic accidents and improving traffic flow. Experience has shown that our efforts have significantly enhanced road safety. In 2017 there were a total of 2,395,687 enforcement actions, an increase of 12% compared with 2016. Drink driving, drug driving, speeding and illegal road racing remain issues of concern.

Selected Traffic Enforcement Priorities (STEP)

Road Safety is an operational priority for the Commissioner of Police. The Selected Traffic Enforcement Priorities (STEP) have recently been comprehensively reviewed to align its targeting of offences with current traffic characteristics in respect of road safety, traffic flow and traffic offences that affect the community.

Traffic accident and congestion related statistics are regularly analysed to identify areas in which improvements to traffic policies and enforcement strategies can be made.

In 2017, there were 15,725 traffic accidents (TAPI) involving 25,372 vehicles, in which 19,888 persons were injured, including 108 persons killed and 2,214 seriously injured on Hong Kong’s roads. These figures do not include traffic accidents in which no person was injured.

The aims of STEP 2018 are to change irresponsible behaviour by road users that causes accidents or obstructs traffic flow; address issues of community concern centred on irresponsible road user behaviour; and make everyone feel that they have a responsibility to ensure road safety.

In order to further reduce undesirable behaviour that constitutes STEP offences, we will focus on educating the public about road safety, risks caused by the offences and the reasons behind enforcement action.

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrians continue to be the group most vulnerable to traffic accidents, accounting for 59% of fatalities in 2017. To address this, the Police Force regularly conducts territory-wide pedestrian road safety operations with a view to reducing traffic accidents involving pedestrians, particularly the elderly. Stringent enforcement actions are taken against pedestrians who blatantly jaywalk or who commit other serious traffic offences. In 2017, there were 18,229 prosecutions against pedestrians. Fatalities among elderly pedestrians aged 65 or above decreased by 20% from 46 persons in 2016 to 37 in 2017. The elderly were victims in 58% of all pedestrian fatalities. Alongside the Police’s continuous enforcement efforts, the Council pledges to enhance publicity about the safety of elderly pedestrians.

Cycling Safety

In recent years, cycling has become increasingly popular. Cyclists are vulnerable on roads and injuries in cycling accidents can be very serious. Territory-wide operations are regularly conducted to raise public awareness of cycling safety. Once on the road, cyclists are obliged to obey all applicable traffic laws and are subject to the Road Traffic Ordinance. Cyclists should pay attention to road safety.   

Anti-Drink Driving

Drink driving legislation is enforced by testing of breath, blood and urine for alcohol. In 2017, 948 persons were arrested for drink driving offences and the number of traffic accidents involving drink driving decreased from 254 cases in 2016 to 232 in 2017. Since late 2013, the Police have used a Mobile Breath Test Centre (MBTC) to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of drink driving enforcement. Three MBTCs have been in operation since the end of 2017 to further combat drink driving.

Anti-Drug Driving

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2011 came into effect on 15 March 2012. It empowers police officers to require drivers to undergo a preliminary drug test that includes Drug Influence Recognition Observations (DIRO) and Impairment Tests (IT) if the driver is involved in a traffic accident or has committed a traffic offence when the vehicle is in motion, or is suspected of driving under the influence of specified illicit drugs or other drugs, or driving after use or consumption of specified illicit drugs. The Ordinance also empowers police officers to require drivers to provide a blood or urine specimen if the police officer forms an opinion after conducting preliminary drug tests that the driver’s ability to drive is impaired. In 2017, a total of 109 DIROs and four ITs were conducted. A total of 15 drivers were arrested for drug driving offences.

Public Service Vehicles Related Offences

Territory-wide operations targeting drivers of public service vehicles, such as franchised buses, public light buses and taxis, to enhance their road safety awareness with the aim of reducing traffic accidents and enhancing traffic flow were mounted by the Police at irregular intervals. In 2017, the Police conducted operations in which a total of 485 drivers or passengers were summonsed and 3,637 drivers issued with fixed penalty tickets.

Seatbelt Offences

Wearing a seat belt is an effective way to reduce injury severity in a traffic accident. Seatbelt offences are tackled by territory-wide operations. In 2017, the Police conducted operations targeting seatbelt offences with a total of 652 summons and 6,963 fixed penalty tickets issued.