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Following is a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-hing and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (February 8) :
Question:
Regarding efforts to enhance road safety and combat red-light jumping by motorists, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the progress of the plan to install overhead traffic signals at 40 locations;
(b) the progress of the feasibility study conducted on the installation of vehicular countdown or flashing green devices at traffic lights; and
(c) the current percentage of prosecutions using evidence from cameras, among all red-light jumping prosecutions?
Reply :
Madam President,
We have installed overhang traffic signals at 10 road junctions. The installation works at another 16 locations will be completed in mid-2006. As for the remaining 14 locations, due to engineering problems, such as the need for diversion of underground utilities, the installation works will be completed by 2007.
We have obtained from the Shenzhen Government a set of flashing green device for our examination in late 2005. The study shows that the device is technically not compatible with the traffic signal control system in Hong Kong. Moreover, according to studies conducted in the United States, Israel, Austria and the United Kingdom, different responses of drivers to these types of devices will increase the risk of head-rear collisions. We therefore consider that the proposal to install vehicular countdown or flashing green devices at traffic lights requires careful examination. We will continue to monitor researches and development in this respect.
In 2005, 78 per cent of all the red-light jumping prosecution cases rely on records of red light cameras as evidence. We expect the percentage to reach about 97 per cent when the number of cameras has increased from the existing 28 to 96.
Ends/Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:28
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