The Transport Department (TD) has been installing auxiliary devices at signalized crossings for trial to project red light onto the pedestrian waiting area when the "red man" is lit. Currently, the auxiliary devices have been installed at 21 junctions in the city. The TD will install the devices at another four more junctions this month and more all over the whole city in the future.
DAB Legislative Councillor Ngan Man-yu pointed out today (June 23) that he had visited four of the corssings with the auxiliary devices earlier and considered the devices effective. He also quoted the TD as saying that no traffic accidents had occurred at the crossings concerned after the installation of the devices.
A study by the University of Hong Kong also found that the devices could reduce the number of red light jumping cases by one quarter for they have a warning effect on those who are more prone to pay more concentrations on their mobile devices with their heads nodding downwards, and less attention to the traffic signals.
Ngan continued that the streets near hospitals, schools or business districts are busier and the installation of the devices should be given priority.
He also said that the TD will install sensors at junctions to adjust the green light time according to the real-time traffic flow data, and the devices will also be gradually applied to various crossings, including the crossing on Sheung Yuet Road in Kowloon Bay, for trial.
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