Police step up anti-jaywalking effort

YOU have been warned.

Hong Kong Police on Thursday said they will conduct a five-day territory-wide pedestrian road safety operation from Dec. 8-Dec. 12.

In a statement, police said the effort seeks to reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians, in particular senior citizens and youngsters.

“During the operation, the Police will enhance enforcement actions and issue summonses against pedestrians who have blatantly jaywalked or committed other serious traffic offences,” the statement said.

It also said officers from the Police Regional Road Safety Teams had distributed publicity leaflets at various locations in the territory prior to the operation to enhance pedestrians’ road safety awareness and urged members of the public to comply with road traffic regulations.

A Police spokesman said that common pedestrian offences included disobeying light signals, crossing within 15 metres of a pedestrian crossing without using such facility, and climbing over a kerbside fence or through a central reservation onto a carriageway.

Police figures showed that from January to October 2017, there were 2,650 pedestrian casualties, including 55 fatalities. Among the deceased, 29 persons were aged 65 or above. Comparing with the same period of 2016, fatalities had decreased by nine persons whereas the number of pedestrian casualties and fatalities aged 65 or above had decreased by 167 and eight persons respectively.

For more road safety information, please visit the Police website: http://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/05_traffic_matters/enforcement.html.