Speed limits of more roads to be relaxed
The Transport Department will adjust speed limits of six road sections upwards from 50 km per hour to 70 km per hour in the coming days.
Moreover, the new penalties for excessive speeding offences will come into effect on January 1, 2001.
"They are part of the on-going measures taken by the Government to further enhance road safety and to combat speeding," said a spokesman for the department.
Under the speed limit relaxation exercise, the speed limit of Castle Peak Road (section between Tai Wo Interchange and Yip Shing Street) in Kwai Chung and Hoi On Road (section between Lai Shun Road and Hoi Hing Road) in Tsuen Wan will be adjusted from 10 am on December 29, 2000 onwards.
For Ting Kok Road (section between Nam Wan Road and Dai Kwai Street) and Yuen Shin Road (section between Ting Kok Road and Tai Po Tai Wo Road) in Tai Po, Tai Chung Kiu Road (section between On Lai Street and Sha Kok Street) in Sha Tin, as well as Po Hong Road (section between Po Lam Road North and Tong Ming Street) in Tseung Kwan O, their speed limits will be changed at 10 am on January 1, 2001.
The spokesman said: "To ensure that the speed limits on roads are appropriate from the road safety and engineering angle, on-going reviews will be conducted regularly.
"More traffic signs and road markings have also been provided to give motorists advance warning of the change in speed limits.
"Nevertheless, speeding still remains a major cause of traffic accidents.
"As excessive speeding activities will pose a serious threat to other road users, heavier penalties for excessive speeding offences will be introduced on January 1, 2001 to achieve a deterrent effect," he explained.
The new penalties for excessive speeding are as follows:
| Offence | Fixed Penalties | Driving-offence Points |
| speeding in excess of the speed limit by 30 - 45 km/hour | $600(existing: $450) | 5 |
| speeding in excess of the speed limit over 45 km/hour | $1,000(existing: $450) | 10(existing: 8) |
The spokesman called on motorists to observe speed limits and drive carefully.
End/Thursday, December 28, 2000