Hong Kong police to target jaywalking amid 3-year high in traffic fatalities
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong police will bolster enforcement against jaywalking and fine offenders HK$2,000 from Monday, the force has said, as it announced 61 traffic fatalities – a three-year high – in the first seven months of the year.
Traffic officers on Thursday said 23 of the 38 pedestrians killed in accidents were over 65, while the rest were motorcycle riders, drivers, passengers and cyclists.
Speaking to reporters, Senior Inspector Chan Ho-man of the road safety unit said many of the accidents involved pedestrians distracted by their phones, and ignoring traffic signals and facilities such as footbridges.
“We also saw parents running red lights with their children,” Chan said during a press conference in Cantonese. He also listed pedestrians walking on traffic lanes and between vehicles as reasons for the accidents.
In response, police will launch a “large-scale law enforcement action” from Monday to combat traffic safety violations.
Dangerous driving
Police will also take action against illegal road behaviour including inattentive driving, careless driving and dangerous driving. “We believe illegal driving behaviour is another major reason for serious and fatal traffic accidents,” Chan said.
Under the law, pedestrians within 15 meters of a pedestrian crossing, footbridge, or subway must use those facilities to cross the road. Climbing over traffic fences or median strips between traffic lanes is also punishable by a HK$2,000 fine.
Chan also pointed to an increase in both pedestrian and vehicular traffic following the relaxation of Covid restrictions as one of the causes for the uptick of accidents and fatalities, adding that trucks, taxis and minibuses were the three types of vehicles most frequently involved in road fatalities.
On Wednesday, a 63-year-old man died after he was hit by a minibus in Cheung Sha Wan. He was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for emergency treatment but was later pronounced dead.
And two weeks ago, a 59-year-old man died after he was hit by two minibuses in Sau Mau Ping. The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene after sustaining head injuries.
Also in late July, a taxi driver died and his four passengers were injured after their cab crashed into a crane vehicle on Gloucester Road in Causeway Bay.
Causing death by dangerous driving is an offence punishable by a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to 10 years in prison. Drivers will also be disqualified from driving for not less than five years on their first conviction.
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