Alleged driver charged after online video shows car mounting safety island, travelling against flow of traffic in Hong Kong
- No one hurt, but ‘incident endangered the safety of other road users’
- Police vow to strictly enforce dangerous driving laws
The alleged driver of a Mercedes-Benz has been charged after a video surfaced online showing the car crossing a safety island and travelling against the flow of traffic on a busy Hong Kong street, police have revealed.
According to the force, the incident took place at the junction of Dundas and Kwong Wa streets in Yau Ma Tei in the afternoon of April 18.
The clip posted on the force’s Facebook page shows the black Mercedes-Benz travelling along Dundas Street and mounting the safety island at the junction with Kwong Wa Street.
“It drove over the safety island for pedestrian crossing, then travelled in the opposite lane, and crossed the double white lines,” police said on their Facebook page on Monday.
“The incident did not result in casualties, but the driver’s dangerous behaviour seriously endangered the safety of other road users.”
After a follow-up investigation by officers from the Kowloon West traffic unit, police charged a 40-year-old with dangerous driving. The man will appear in Kowloon City Court on August 25.
“Police strongly condemn irresponsible driving behaviour that poses a danger to other road users and is often the cause of serious traffic accidents. The force must strictly enforce the law and never tolerate it,” police said.
According to the force, dangerous driving is punishable by up to three years in jail and a HK$25,000 (US$3,000) fine.
In the first four months of this year, 26 people died and 248 others suffered serious injuries in road traffic accidents.
