Hong Kong police to crack down on traffic offences after fatal accidents rise 40%
Officers to target both drivers and pedestrians by filming from elevated spots, along with plain-clothes patrols
Hong Kong police will launch a citywide crackdown on traffic offences by both drivers and pedestrians, with the enforcement to include officers filming from a height, as the number of fatal road accidents climbed by 40 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
Superintendent Lai Siu-wai of the traffic branch headquarters said on Friday that officers would conduct ad hoc law enforcement operations across the city, coupled with plain-clothes patrols and filming from elevated spots.
“[The operation] will target common traffic offences by drivers and pedestrians, such as reckless driving, speeding and crossing the road without regard to traffic light signals or using pedestrian facilities,” Lai said.
The high-profile operation would be conducted continuously, she added.
In addition to uniformed and plain-clothes patrols, the force would use existing traffic enforcement cameras installed on highways and at road junctions, as well as surveillance cameras installed across the city and other authorised law enforcement tools.
Offenders can be immediately arrested at roadblocks or later if the video recordings provide sufficient evidence.