The amendments seek to prevent serious traffic accidents caused by "drink driving" and "dangerous driving causing death" by:

(a) raising the maximum imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving from five to 10 years;

(b) raising penalties for drink driving offences by disqualifying the offender from driving for not less than three months on first conviction and requiring the offender to attend a mandatory Driving Improvement Course (DIC);

(c) providing the police with power to conduct screening breath tests at random; and introducing a pre-screening device to assist the police in conducting such random breath tests;

(d) imposing a mandatory requirement for repeated traffic offenders or persons convicted of serious traffic offences and persons who have incurred ten or more driving-offence-points within two years to attend the DIC;

(e) increasing the fine for non-compliance with the DIC requirement from $3,000 to $5,000. In such case, the Commissioner for Transport may refuse to issue, re-issue or renew all of the offender's driving licences until he has completed the DIC, and

(f) introducing a Probationary Driving Licence Scheme for novice drivers of private cars and light goods vehicles.

The first major activity, "Smart and Courteous Drivers' Road Safety Launching Ceremony", was held at the Hollywood Plaza, Diamond Hill, with Traffic Branch Headquarters Chief Superintendent Michael Demaid-Groves, Traffic Kowloon East Senior Superintendent Leung Fui, Mr Lawrence Yu, Chairman of the Road Safety Campaign Committee, Mr Philip Lim, Campaign Sponsor, and Ms Casey Tse Man-ngar, local artiste, officiating.

Attending the ceremony were 200 professional drivers from various transport trades, as well as representatives from the Road Safety Council, government departments, Traffic and Transport Committees of District Councils, transport companies and community organisations.

In his opening speech, Mr Demaid-Groves stressed that road safety was a shared responsibility and all Hong Kong citizens could contribute to making roads and driving safer. Through the joint efforts and support by all road users, traffic accidents could be reduced and the road safety standard in Hong Kong could be raised, he added.

The ceremony featured a road safety quiz, lucky draw, games booths, exhibitions, screening breath tests and singing performances to publicise the legislative amendments, and to encourage motorists to be considerate and to drive safely on the roads.

Following the launching ceremony is a series of other territory-wide publicity activities, including visits between August and December to professional drivers, to be led by Mr Demaid-Groves and conducted in collaboration with Regional Road Safety Units. During these outreaching visits, leaflets on the increased penalties for drink driving will be distributed and random breath tests will be introduced with a view to making professional drivers more aware of the danger and legal responsibilities of drink driving.

Chief Superintendent (Traffic Branch Headquarters) Michael Demaid-Groves appeals for joint efforts and support by all road users to reduce traffic accidents

It's better to start road safety education early