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The following is issued on behalf of the Road Safety Council:
In order to further promote elderly pedestrian safety, the "Road Safety Council in Partnership with the 18 District Councils to Promote Elderly Pedestrian Safety Kick-off Ceremony" was held today (June 25). As a new initiative to promote elderly pedestrian safety, leaflets and souvenirs were distributed in 18 districts throughout Hong Kong simultaneously.
Elderly pedestrian safety is an issue of concern for the Road Safety Council (RSC). According to Police records, 48 elderly pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2010, which accounted for 41% of the total traffic fatalities. It was a 14% increase when compared with the figure for 2009.
The RSC and representatives from 18 District Councils officiated at the launch ceremony at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Tsim Sha Tsui, this morning.
Officiating guests at the ceremony included the Chairman of the Road Safety Campaign Committee (RSCC), Dr Eric Cheng; the former Chairman of the RSCC, Mr Lawrence Yu; Chief Superintendent (Traffic), Mr Stephen Verralls; Chairmen and representatives of the Traffic and Transport Committees of the 18 District Councils; and artistes. They chanted the slogan "Love yourself, love your family, be a smart pedestrian".
After the ceremony, all the guests boarded the Elderly Road Safety Bus to visit Tsim Sha Tsui, where they distributed leaflets and souvenirs to members of the public.
Senior citizens from elderly service organisations and Elderly Road Safety Ambassadors joined by representatives of the 18 District Councils and Police Regional Road Safety Teams visited various busy pedestrian crossings to distribute leaflets, reminding elderly pedestrians to adhere to traffic regulations and road users to take care of elderly pedestrians on the road.
Ends/Saturday, June 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:01
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