Territory-wide campaign to promote pedestrian safety
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Police will launch a territory-wide pedestrian road safety campaign from tomorrow (June 25) to July 8. The two-week campaign is aimed at educating pedestrians, in particular senior citizens, on road safety before taking enforcement action against offenders.

During the first week, officers from Police Regional Road Safety Teams will distribute publicity leaflets at 70 locations in the territory, including traffic accident black spots, to enhance pedestrians' road safety awareness and appeal to the public to comply with road safety regulations.

Offenders may be given verbal warnings in the first week while enforcement action to deal with jaywalking and pedestrian offences will be taken in the subsequent week.

A Police spokesman said that common pedestrian offences included failing to comply with a light signal on a light signal crossing; crossing within 15 metres of a footbridge or a pedestrian subway without using such facilities; and climbing over a kerbside fence or through a central reservation onto a carriageway. Police will take enforcement action against all pedestrian offenders, irrespective of their age.

Police figures revealed that there were 1 413 pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents during the first five months in 2009, in which 28 persons were killed. Compared with the same period in 2008, there were decreases of 169 pedestrian casualties and 21 fatalities respectively. Among the deceased, 19 or 68% were over the age of 60, a decrease of 13 persons when compared with the same period last year.

Police Report No.8
Issued by PPRB

Ends/Wednesday, June 24 2009
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