To raise public awareness and to publicise the recently revised drink driving legislation, Traffic Branch Headquarters (TBHQ) are conducting a series of anti-drink driving publicity activities and campaigns.

In July, the "Smart and Courteous Drivers' Road Safety Launching Ceremony" introduced to transport trade drivers the increased penalties on drink driving offences and the new Police powers to conduct random breath tests under the new legislation which will take effect in early 2009.

In September, Chief Superintendent Traffic Michael Demaid-Groves joined the Road Safety Unit and the Kowloon East Regional Road Safety Team to conduct an outreach visit to meet Public Light Bus (PLB) drivers. New publicity leaflets highlighting the new legislation were handed to drivers at fuel stations, PLB stands and at popular eateries frequented by PLB drivers.

During the visit, two representatives of the PLB Association noted: "We are grateful that the Police are taking the lead to remind our drivers. We are very supportive of the new legislation because professional drivers who lose their licences will lose their income."

Mr Demaid-Groves later told the media: "This is the start of a series of publicity events to spread the message 'If you drink, don't drive!' "

Police will conduct more outreach visits to the taxi trade in October, franchised buses in November and cross boundary transport in December. "We aim to inform all groups of professional drivers that a conviction for drink driving will result in suspension of the driving licence," Mr Demaid-Groves noted.

To show the Force's stance against drink driving, a total of 60 traffic officers gathered at the Auxiliary Police Headquarters for a photo shoot, with the backdrop featuring two creative bus publicity posters.

Mr Demaid-Groves told Police Magazine: "There are 107 small red figures on each bus, representing the 107 persons killed and injured due to drink driving-related accidents in 2007."

Apart from publicity and education on the revised drink driving legislation, TBHQ and regional traffic officers are conducting enforcement operations. The speed enforcement operations in the New Territories in the early hours of the morning have recently shown an increase in drivers found to be drink driving.

The latest territory-wide anti-drink driving operation, "QuickChaser", commenced on the National Day Public Holiday and ended on October 7, during which 815 drivers were required to give breath samples and 44 of them were subsequently arrested. The next similar operation has been scheduled for December this year.

Officers gather to show their determination to thwart drink driving

The 107 small red figures on the bus represent the 107 persons killed and injured in drink driving-related accidents in 2007

Chief Superintendent Michael Demaid-Groves, Public Light Bus Association representatives and traffic officers distribute copies of a leaflet on the revised drink driving legislation to PLB drivers at various locations