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The Police will run a two-week territory-wide pedestrian road safety campaign from tomorrow (January 10) to January 23, with a view to reducing traffic accidents involving pedestrians, in particular senior citizens, through education, publicity and enforcement.
During the first week of the campaign, officers from Police Regional Road Safety Teams will distribute publicity leaflets at various locations throughout the territory to enhance pedestrian road safety awareness and appeal to the public to comply with road traffic regulations.
Offenders who have committed minor traffic offences may be given verbal warnings during the first week while enforcement action to deal with jaywalking and pedestrian offences will be taken in the subsequent week.
A Police spokesman said that common pedestrian offences included disobeying light signals; crossing within 15 metres of a footbridge or a pedestrian subway without using such facilities; and climbing over a kerbside fence or through a central reservation onto a carriageway.
Police figures revealed that there were 3,516 pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents during the first 11 months of 2010, in which 61 persons were killed. Compared with the same period in 2009, there was an increase of 253 pedestrian casualties (8%) and a decrease of three fatalities (5%). Among the deceased, 43 persons (70%) were over the age of 60, a decrease of five persons (10%) as compared with the same period in 2009.
Police Report No.13
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Sunday, January 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:41
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