New speed limit road markings to enhance road safety

The Transport Department (TD) has been laying newly-designed road markings at road surface where the speed limit is lowered to 50 kilometres per hour (50km/h) to further enhance road safety.

A spokesman for the department said today (May 1) that the road markings, in addition to speed limit reduction ahead warning signs at the same locations, were to alert motorists of the need to reduce speed before the change to a lower speed limit.

A half-year trial laying of the 50 km/h speed limit road markings at the following four locations was carried out by TD in mid-2001 to see whether motorists can read and recognise the markings easily:

	Man Po Street eastbound near the elevated walkway from Central;
	Kwun Tong Road eastbound near Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate block one;
	Shing Mun Tunnel Road Sha Tin bound slip road to Tai Wai; and
	Castle Peak Road - Kwai Chung Section Kowloon bound near the slip road to Wah Yuen Chuen.

"Upon completing the trial, TD found that most of the motorists would slow down when approaching the road markings.

"We have also received positive feedback from the public that the 50 km/h speed limit road marking is effective and should be extended to other suitable locations in the territory," the spokesman said.

He added that in view of the encouraging result, TD had decided to lay the speed limit road markings at all entry points to urban areas where the speed limit was lowered to 50 km/h by end 2002.

"If the results continue to be encouraging, we will consider applying this road marking to other suitable locations," he said.

The trial laying of the road markings was advised by the Working Group on Speed Limit Review (WG), which is set up by the Government to deliberate findings of the regular review of speed limit of trunk roads throughout the territory, in a bit to combat speeding and enhance road safety.

The WG comprises representatives from TD and Police, as well as the Hong Kong Automobile Association and the Institute of Advanced Motorists Hong Kong to benefit from their expert views.

During the latest review in late 2000 to 2001, the Government examined 53 road sections with a speed limit of 50 or 70 km/h, taking into account factors including the accident history, geometry and environment of the road sections.

With the endorsement of the WG and relevant Districts, speed limit of the following six road sections have been relaxed from 50 to 70 km/h since late 2000:

	Castle Peak Road (between Tai Wo Interchange and Yip Shing Street);
	Hoi On Road;
	Hung Hom Road (between Hung Luen Road and Hung Hom Bypass);
	Hung Hom Bypass (between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road);
	Kwun Tong Road (between Hong Tak Road and Ngau Tau Kok Road); and
	Tai Po Tai Wo Road (between On Cheung Road and Yuen Shin Road).

Moreover, the WG also recommended the lowering of speed limit of Pokfulam Road between Chi Fu Road and Victoria Road from 70 to 50 km/hr to address the relative high accident rates on the road section. The adjustment was implemented in January 2002.

The Government will continue to conduct regular speed limit review and install additional warning signs and road markings to alert motorists as appropriate.

End/Wednesday, May 1, 2002