Junior Police Call (JPC) members are not only dedicated to helping the police fight crime, but also very enthusiastic in driving home road safety messages.
The recent participation of the Sha Tin JPCs in a cycling safety publicity function was a good example.
More than 20 members took part in the ‘Sha Tin Safe Cycling Day’, which was held in the Tai Wai Bicycle Park. The function aimed at reminding cyclists to observe road rules in order to fully enjoy the fun of riding bicycles.
At the opening ceremony, the JPCs, some of whom were clearly bicycle enthusiasts, demonstrated cycling skills, while the others, joined by members of the Road Safety Patrol, distributed publicity leaflets to bicycle riders along the bicycle track leading from Sha Tin to Tai Po.
The colourful leaflets carried 12 lively cartoon pictures urging cyclists to observe road users’ codes while enjoying their rides. Over 15,000 leaflets were given out in the course of the morning.
One of the safety guidelines called on riders to keep their bicycles to the road’s left lane, unless they wanted to overtake the bicycle in front of them.
Meanwhile, other JPC members rode on an open-deck bus decorated with cycling safety messages and took part in a parade from Tai Wai Train Station to Ma On Shan.
Senior Superintendent (Traffic NT South) David Thomas said at the function that 681 traffic accidents involving bicycles occurred last year, of which eight resulted in death and 216 led to serious injuries. The figure represented a 17 per cent increase over the toll of 584 in 1993.
‘Many of these accidents could have been avoided had these cyclists taken safety measures and paid attention when they were riding,’ Mr Thomas said.
Noting that the promotion of safe cycling was an important item of the district’s road safety education this year, Mr Thomas said that Sha Tin was one of the districts in the territory where cycle tracks were built along highways and roads for use solely by bicycle riders.
‘In October last year, Tai Wai Bicycle Park became a gazetted area for the riding of three-or four-wheel multicycles,’ Mr Thomas said.
‘Although cyclists are provided with such good facilities, the responsibility for safety rests with the cyclists themselves.’ The ‘1995 Sha Tin Safe Cycling Day’ was organised by the Road Safety Office of the Traffic Police’s NT South Region and the Sha Tin District Board.
