KW Region Traffic Day Operation against PLB related offences

Police Kowloon West Region today (September 15) concluded the Regional Traffic Day Operation against public light bus (PLB) related offences especially seat belt offences.

As part of the ongoing efforts to encourage drivers and passengers to protect themselves from injury, Police Kowloon West Region started the two-day operation yesterday (September 14).

Officers from Traffic, Kowloon West and District Traffic Teams of Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Kowloon City and Sham Shui Po were deployed to mount the operation.

The operation, which started from 8 am yesterday and ended at 4 am today, resulted in the issue of 51 summonses to PLB drivers and passengers who violated traffic regulations. A total of nine drivers and passengers were verbally warned for committing sealbelt or other offences.

In the first eight months of this year, Police provisional figures indicate that there were a total of 292 traffic accidents involving PLB in Kowloon West, resulting in 111 casualties.

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. A passenger who is found not wearing a seat belt when it is available 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 been according 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. 5
Issued by PPRB

End/ Friday, September 15, 2006