Traffic blitz against drink driving during World Cup
Traffic formations stepped up their education and enforcement efforts to deter drink driving during the World Cup tournament from June to July.
As part of these efforts Senior Superintendent (SSP) Mark Foster of Traffic Kowloon East led officers of his Road Safety Team to hand out anti-drink driving leaflets to customers in bars in Kowloon East on Saturday, June 26, to remind them not to drive after drinking. He also took the opportunity to advise them of the serious consequences of drink driving, and stressed that traffic officers would be stepping up patrols and random breath tests in the areas frequented by soccer fans during the World Cup.
SSP Foster disclosed that the number of traffic accidents involving drink driving during the first five months of this year totalled 87, representing a decrease of 25 percent compared with the 117 cases recorded in the same period last year. He attributed this to the deterrent effect of the random breath test scheme introduced on February 9, 2009, as well as the concerted efforts of officers in tackling drink driving.
Highlighting this point, he said that during the first five months of this year, Traffic Kowloon East conducted more than 6,000 random breath tests - on average 40 per day. Furthermore, Traffic Kowloon East apprehended a total of eight drivers for drink driving during the early morning of Sunday, June 20, when the first round World Cup matches were drawing to a close.
SSP Foster re-iterated the simple but important message: "If you drink, don’t drive".
SSP Foster hands out copies of an anti-drink driving leaflet in a bar in Sai Kung
