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The following is issued on behalf of the Road Safety Council:
The Chairman of the Road Safety Council and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Tang King-shing, today (November 25) called on the Hong Kong community to exercise continued caution against accidents and to maintain road safety efforts.
Road accident fatality rates in 2005 dropped to a 47-year low of 139 and the number of fatal road accidents in the first 10 months of 2006 stood at 108, which is 6 per cent lower than the corresponding period last year.
But we must not be complacent, said Mr Tang at the Road Safety Campaign Launching Ceremony. "We must continue to strive for zero road accidents."
Mr Tang said that this year's road safety programme would adopt the theme "Smart Driving with Courtesy". There will be a series of activities to publicise courtesy to road users to promote greater awareness of road safety and reduce traffic accidents.
Joint efforts will be made with transport operators and community bodies including District Councils to drive home road safety messages to the public.
To launch this year's publicity programme, a television special appealing to pedestrians, drivers and passengers to follow road safety rules and introducing this year's campaign activities will be broadcast at 11.05pm on December 21 on TVB-Jade.
The Road Safety Council aims to promote a safe and efficient road system in Hong Kong, minimising traffic accidents and ensuring the safety of all road users, with the vision of achieving zero accidents.
Ends/Saturday, November 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:39
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