While Hong Kong holds a relatively high global ranking for its road safety record, in terms of fatalities per million of population, there is no room for complacency. Safe roads for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike continue to be the focus of the Road Safety Council along with a community-wide safety promotion policy. The fatal accident at Lok Ma Chau in January 2009 served as a sobering reminder of the need for our continuous efforts in anti-drink driving and enhancing safe driving behaviour. The Council's role is to look objectively at road safety, listen to the views of the public and work with relevant agencies and government departments to ensure appropriate road safety measures are considered and put in place; and road safety messages are spread through publicity, education and enforcement. Traffic statistics showed that 18,684 people were killed or injured in 14,576 traffic accidents in 2008, a decrease of 4.8% when compared to 2007 figures. Our achievements are the result of successful partnerships with government departments, the business sectors, and civil and community organisations. Our response to these statistics and associated findings is to focus our road safety publicity strategy on three key areas: anti-drink driving, safety for elderly pedestrians and safety for cyclists. Community support and a multi-agency approach are vital if we are to maintain Hong Kong's reputation as one of the world's safest cities for road users and pedestrians alike. (Author/publisher)
Abstract