I refer to the letter from J. Chua titled “ Coronavirus needs police to use discretion ”, published on December 10. Road safety is one of the operational priorities of the commissioner of police. Through engineering, engagement and enforcement, the police endeavour to promote road safety and ensure a smooth traffic flow in Hong Kong. Traffic enforcement is based on the philosophy of deterrence, to discourage the undesirable behaviour of road users. Police officers will exercise their professional judgment after taking into consideration the prevailing circumstances and decide whether a verbal warning will suffice to achieve the desired effect of deterrence. Please rest assured that the police will balance the interests of different road users in maintaining smooth traffic flow and will continue the effort to make Hong Kong’s roads safer. Kwok Ka-chuen, chief superintendent, Police Public Relations Branch, Hong Kong Police Force