24 drivers arrested, over 4,000 tickets issued in crackdown on errant road users
Hong Kong police mount citywide operations from June 5 to 19 in response to 40 per cent surge in traffic-related deaths in first five months
Hong Kong police have arrested 24 drivers and issued more than 4,000 tickets during a two-week crackdown on distracted driving and jaywalking, after the number of deaths in road accidents surged more than 40 per cent in the first five months of the year.
During the two citywide operations from June 5 to 19, officers deployed unmarked traffic enforcement vehicles against dangerous driving behaviour such as using mobile phones behind the wheel, speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changing, and failing to obey traffic lights and road signs.
The crackdown resulted in 24 arrests for drink-driving, drug-driving and driving without a licence.
Officers also issued 4,070 fixed penalty tickets and 153 summonses to drivers, while pedestrians received 630 summonses and 367 warnings.
According to the force, 51 people died in road accidents between January 1 and May 31, a 42 per cent jump compared with the same period last year. Half of the victims were pedestrians.
Police identified commercial vehicles as the main type of vehicle involved in the collisions, and cited pedestrians crossing illegally and drivers’ inattention as the leading causes.