In its response to my letter, the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau (South China Morning Post, February 19) rejected my suggestion that we should enact a law, as in other countries, making it illegal in the event of a damage-only traffic accident for drivers to leave their vehicle on the road, causing danger to other road users.
The bureau writes that 'drivers are advised to leave the scene after exchanging personal particulars'. However, this conflicts with the advice given by the Transport Department on its Web site, where drivers are urged to 'move their vehicle to an adjacent safe place' in the event of such an accident. It is not only this department that urges drivers to move their vehicle off the road before exchanging particulars. Guidelines issued by the Traffic Branch Headquarters of the police give the same advice and provide good reasons as well:
'Do not leave your vehicle in the road obstructing other traffic and risking the possibility of another accident;
'Do not stand in the carriageway discussing blame with others: not only do you cause unnecessary obstruction but you risk being injured or killed if an approaching driver fails to notice you in time,' and
'Move your vehicle, if it is drivable, to a safe place at the side of the road before you complete the legal formalities.'
It's not just the danger of further accidents at the scene that should concern us, but the likelihood that the frustration that builds up from having been kept waiting for so long will result in further accidents as drivers seek to make up for lost time.
