Strategy to Combat Red Light Jumping Why we need to increase penalty Red light jumping is a serious offence. It endangers not only the driver and passengers of the vehicle in question, but also other road users, especially pedestrians who follow the lights when crossing the road. Facts and Figures There are more and more red light jumping offences on the roads. Over 100 red light jumping offences are caught each day. On average, there is 1 red-light jumping accident causing injuries each day. Every day, 2 persons die or get injured because of red light jumping. Year No of accidents No of casualties No of prosecutions 2002 342 583 24 381 2003 362 598 22 590 2004 355 675 39 376 Red light jumping is 4 times more likely to cause accidents than speeding. Offence Prosecutions Accidents Ratio Red light jumping 39 376 355 111:1 Speeding 210 990 488 432:1 There is wide public support for introducing additional measures to combat red light jumping. Opinion poll conducted by the University of Hong Kong found that: 79% considered that the driving-offence points for red light jumping should be increased, and the majority supported raising it from 3 to 5. 72% of the respondents supported increasing the fixed penalty to $600.
Strategy to Combat Red Light Jumping - 2 - Our strategy to combat red light jumping comprises four major areas education, use of technology, legislation and enforcement. (a) Use of Technology: Red Light Cameras Expand red light camera coverage to all red light jumping blackspots. Increase no of red light cameras from 28 to 96. Increase no of red light camera housings from 111 to 131. Electronic Prosecution i.e. those using evidence from red light cameras now covers about 80% of all red light jumping prosecutions. This will increase to over 97% after all the cameras have been installed. Will also explore whether mobile red light cameras are available to facilitate enforcement work. (b) Use of Technology: Overhead Traffic Lights Install more overhead traffic lights at wide junctions to improve visibility. Have installed/will install overhead traffic lights at 40 junctions. Will continue to identify locations. Welcome suggestions on suitable locations. (c) Use of Technology: Speed Display Devices on Public Light Buses We have required all public light bus to install speed display devices as speeding vehicles are more likely to jump traffic lights. Passengers will then be able to monitor the speed of the public light bus. Currently, 1,003 or 23% of public light buses have installed such a device. By April 2006, all 4,350 public light buses will have installed the device. (d) Education: Publicity & Education Red Light Jumping will be focus of road safety publicity in 2005-6. Set aside specific resources to combat red light jumping. March: Launch of Public Light Bus Safety Charter. April and May: trade-oriented publicity. June: new radio APIs and distribution of road safety leaflets. July to August: trade-oriented publicity, on-job training, roadside publicity etc. September to October: Banners, advertising billboards at tunnels and roads. November to December: new TV APIs, newspaper features and specific events.
- 3 - (e) Strengthened Enforcement: Red Light Cameras Details at (a) above. (f) Strengthened Enforcement: Display of Driver s Identity Card & Complaint Hotline Passengers may report red light jumping behaviour to the Police or Complaint Hotline right away. The last, but the most important, part of our Strategy to Combat Red Light Jumping is LEGISLATION. We consider it necessary to supplement the above measures by raising the penalties so as to bring about a stronger deterrent effect. Proposal : (a) Raise Driving-Offence Points from 3 to 5; (b) Increase the Fixed Penalty from $450 to $600; (c) New penalties to take effect from 1 January 2006.
- 4 - Frequently Asked Questions: (a) Police prosecution may not be entirely fair. Why still raise the driving-offence points? We understand the concern of some drivers. We will significantly increase the number of red light cameras, especially at the blackspots. This will raise the ratio of electronic prosecution to over 97%. In other words, the vast majority of prosecutions will be based on photos captured by the cameras. (b) Why not install red light cameras at all road junctions? There are over 1,700 signalised junctions in Hong Kong, and most of them have two or more sets of traffic lights. Installing cameras at all junctions would neither be practicable nor cost-effective. (c) Why is Shenzhen able to install 800+ red light cameras? The red light cameras adopted in Hong Kong and Shenzhen are different. Our cameras have been designed to meet the evidential requirements in Hong Kong courts. Nonetheless, we are seeking more information from Shenzhen. (d) Why not use Vehicular Countdown System to give additional warning to drivers? Our traffic light systems are computerized to facilitate traffic flow. Such countdown devices are not compatible with our traffic light systems. We understand Guangzhou and Shenzhen have dismantled most of their countdown systems for the same reason. Researches and trials in other places have yielded conflicting results. While some cities like Shenzhen might find it successful, many cities find that such systems would lead to more head-rear collisions because motorists react differently to the countdown i.e. some would rush through the junction while others may stop when the countdown has begun. (e) How about Flashing Green Systems before the amber light? Similar to the Vehicular Countdown System, such flashing green systems are not compatible with our traffic light system. Again, there could be more head-rear collisions because motorists react differently to the flashing green.
- 5 - (f) Why is Shenzhen able to install flashing green in their traffic light system? The traffic signal controllers in Hong Kong and Shenzhen have different designs. (g) Can we separate Amber light jumping and Red light jumping as two offences? We will examine this idea in detail, taking into account the enforcement problems and the experiences of other places. (h) Can we extend the 3-second amber light to allow more time for vehicles to pass through the junctions? Most of the roads are subject to the speed limit of 50 km/hour. If drivers follow the speed limit, they should be able to stop in front of the signals when the light changes to red. If the light changes to amber while vehicles are crossing the stop line, then the 3 seconds should be adequate for vehicles to pass through the junction. (i) If the driving-offence points are increased to 5, drivers who are convicted of red light jumping 3 times within 2 years will have their driving licences suspended. Why impose such heavy penalty? Drivers can have 3 driving-offence points deducted once within 2 years if they attend a Driving Improvement Course. This means that they will only have their licences suspended if they are convicted of red light jumping 4 times within 2 years.