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Lawmakers Demand: Severe Measures for Reckless Driving

MACAU - Several lawmakers yesterday urged the police force to be more heavy-handed against reckless driving, calling for more safety on the city’s roads.

The lawmakers highlighted a long list of poor driving behaviours, pointing out that drivers do not stop for red lights or when pedestrians are on zebra crossings and they constantly drive while speaking on the mobile phone or without their safety-belt.

They called on the Public Security Police’s (PSP) transit department to enhance law enforcement.

The secretary for Security Cheong Kuoc Vá did not comment much on the issue, but pledged to improve driver awareness.

In the first nine months of this year, there were 10,393 road accidents, 562 more than for  the same period last year, according to official figures. Between January and September 2011, the number of injured people in traffic accidents rose to 3,852, with almost 200 requiring hospitalisation.

Eight people have died in traffic accidents as of September 30, but the number has increased since then, possibly exceeding the number of fatalities for the whole of 2010 (10).

The head of the PSP traffic department, Mui San Meng, told the media recently that the increasing number of accidents may be explained by the lack of civic behaviour from drivers and also by the rising number of vehicles on the road. According to official figures, there were 203,443 vehicles on the road in July this year, the majority of which were motorcycles (109,936).

Directly-elected lawmaker Mak Soi Kun was the first in the debate at the Legislative Assembly to voice his concerns over local drivers’ reckless behaviour. He called on the secretary for Security to set up cameras along traffic lights and zebra crossings, in order to catch drivers who fail to stop and do not let people cross the street safely.

Mak questioned why police officers do not fine drivers that do not stop in crosswalks. “Many drivers are not aware of what road traffic safety is,” Lee Chong Cheng added.

“They fail to stop when the red light is on, drive over the speed limit and use mobile phones while driving,” he added.

Pan-democrat Ng Kuok Cheong continued to say that residents want traffic to be better monitored.

“Do traffic control cameras have any effect so far? Is it possible to install cameras along the walkways to fine those who do not yield to pedestrians to pass?” he asked.

The secretary vowed to “strengthen law enforcement”, but was short in giving details. “We will reinforce and raise awareness [among drivers],” he added.

“From January to October, more than 390 drivers who broke the law have been fined and two repeated cases were sent to the Public Prosecutions Office. Our police officers are performing their work,” Cheong pointed out.

He also pledged to pay more attention to taxi drivers who reject taking passengers, as lawmakers also voiced concerns over this frequent occurance.

In addition, several members of the AL asked the government to create special lanes for shuttles buses, in order to lessen their impact on traffic flow. Cheong declined to comment, saying that such a decision has to be made by the Transport Bureau.

By: Alexandra Lages, Macau Daily Times

English - USA