Police operation against failure to wear seat belts on PLB
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Police issued more than 300 summonses and verbal warnings to public light bus passengers for not wearing seat belts in a special 24-hour territory-wide operation concluded on April 25.

As part of ongoing efforts to encourage both drivers and passengers to protect themselves from injury, Police conducted the operation on Thursday (April 24) against failing to wear seat belts whilst on board a PLB.

The operation resulted in the issuing of 83 verbal warnings and 223 summonses to PLB passengers. As for PLB drivers, Police issued five fixed penalty tickets in the operation.  

In the first quarter of this year, there were a total of 277 traffic accidents involving PLBs, resulting in 415 casualties. This compares with 254 traffic accidents and 379 casualties in the same period last year.

Police stress that it is the passengers' personal responsibility to ensure that they are securely fastened to their seats by means of a seat belt where one is fitted. A passenger who is found not to be wearing a seat belt on a PLB is subject to a maximum fine of $5,000 and three months' imprisonment.
 
Any PLB driver who fails to wear a seat belt is also liable to a fine of $5,000 and three months' imprisonment.

"The Force has all along accorded a high priority to the reduction of deaths and injuries arising from traffic accidents and will continue to pro-actively adopt a three-pronged approach of education, publicity and enforcement to tackle the problem with a view to enhancing road safety for all road users in Hong Kong," a Police spokesman said.

Police Report No. 3
Issued by PPRB
Ends/ Friday, April 25, 2008