LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PANEL ON TRANSPORT Progress Report of Speed Limit … · 2005. 8. 11. · Progress Report of Speed Limit Review 2001 PURPOSE This paper sets out the progress of

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PANEL ON TRANSPORT

Progress Report of Speed Limit Review 2001

PURPOSE

This paper sets out the progress of the speed limit review exerciseconducted since late 2000 for Members’ information.

BACKGROUND

2. At the meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel onTransport held on 27 October 2000, Members noted that the speed limit of thefollowing four road sections would be relaxed from 50 km/h to 70 km/h –

(a) Ting Kok Road (between Nam Wan Road and Dai Kwai Street)and Yuen Shin Road (between Tai Po Tai Wo Road and Ting KokRoad);

(b) Tai Chung Kiu Road (between Sha Kok Street and On Lai Street);

(c) Po Hong Road; and

(d) Wan Po Road (between Chiu Shun Road and Chun Yat Street).

3. The speed limit of the road sections in (a), (b) and (c) wassubsequently relaxed in January 2001 and that in (d) in February 2001.

4. The review on the speed limit of trunk roads and primarydistributors is conducted on a regular basis. In response to Members’ request,the Administration undertook to provide Members with a progress report on thereview on an annual basis.

REVIEW OF SPEED LIMIT

5. Since late 2000, the Administration has examined a total of 53 roadsections of trunk roads and primary distributors with a speed limit of 50 km/h or70 km/h as detailed in Annex A. The list includes 10 road sections with aspeed limit of 50 km/h and 43 road sections with a speed limit of 70 km/h.

CB(1)1110/01-02(01)

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Review Criteria

6. In reviewing the speed limit of any road sections, ensuring thesafety of the road users is the primary concern. Relaxation would only berecommended if road safety would not be impaired. As in the previous reviewexercise, the Administration would take into consideration the following factorsin carrying out detailed examination of the speed limit of a road section -

(a) the accident history of the road section, i.e. the personal injuryaccident rate of the road section concerned as compared with thefigure for the whole territory;

(b) the geometry and environment of the road section, i.e. the gradientand sightline of the road section concerned, the number ofsignalised road junctions, and the extent of pedestrian activities,etc.;

(c) the number of changes in speed limit on a stretch of road should beminimised. For local hazards, consideration would be given toproviding appropriate warning signs rather than lowering the speedlimit; and

(d) the speed under which the majority of drivers of light vehiclesduring off-peak periods would travel, i.e. the 85th percentile vehiclespeed.

Speed Limit Review Working Group

7. The Administration has set up a Working Group on Speed LimitReview (the Working Group) to deliberate the findings of the review. Inaddition to representatives from Transport Department, the Working Group alsocomprises representatives from the Police, the Hong Kong AutomobileAssociation and the Institute of Advanced Motorists Hong Kong to benefit fromtheir expert views. Recommendations of the Working Group are set out in theensuing paragraphs.

Review Findings

(a) Relaxation of speed limit

8. With the endorsement of the Working Group and relevant DistrictCouncils, the speed limit of the following five road sections has been raisedfrom 50km/h to 70 km/h in end 2000 and the first half of 2001 -

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(a) Castle Peak Road (between Tai Wo Interchange and Yip ShingStreet);

(b) Hoi On Road;

(c) Hung Hom Road (between Hung Luen Road and Hung HomBypass);

(d) Hung Hom Bypass (between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road);and

(e) Kwun Tong Road (between Hong Tak Road and Ngau Tau KokRoad).

9. The Working Group also endorsed that the speed limit of thefollowing four road sections be raised to 70 km/h or 80 km/h in early 2002subject to the comments of relevant District Councils -

(a) Tai Po Tai Wo Road (between On Cheung Road and Yuen ShinRoad) – to be relaxed from 50 km/h to 70 km/h;

(b) Western Harbour Tunnel – to be relaxed from 70 km/h to 80 km/h;

(c) Elevated section of Route 7 (between Central District and ShekTong Tsui) – to be relaxed from 70 km/h to 80 km/h; and

(d) Western Harbour Crossing northbound (between toll plaza andWest Kowloon Highway) – to be relaxed from 70 km/h to 80 km/h.

(b) Downward adjustment of speed limit

10. The Working Group noted that Pokfulam Road between Chi FuRoad and Victoria Road, currently with a speed limit of 70 km/h, hadconsistently recorded a traffic accident rate much higher than the territoryaverage in the past few years. It was also noted that the speed limit in thevicinity of the signalised junction with Victoria Road was 50km/h and the needfor reducing speed when approaching the signalized junction presented a sightlineproblem for motorists. The Working Group therefore recommended that thespeed limit of Pokfulam Road between Chi Fu Road and Victoria Road beadjusted downward from 70 km/h to 50 km/h to address the problems of highpersonal injury accident rates and frequent changes of speed limits within ashort section of road. The adjustment was implemented in January 2002.

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(c) Speed limit to be retained

11. Of the remaining road sections covered in the review, road worksare being or would be carried out on the following six road sections –

(a) Yuen Shin Road from Tai Po Tai Wo Road to Tolo Highway;(b) Hung Tin Road;(c) Tin Ying Road;(d) Tin Wah Road;(e) Tin Tsz Road; and(f) Long Tin Road.

12. Given the physical state of the existing road environment, theircurrent speed limit, i.e. 70 km/h, will be maintained for the time being. TheAdministration will carry out review for these road sections upon completion ofthe concerned road works.

13. The speed limits of the remaining 37 road sections are alsorecommended to be retained taking into account their accident records, roadenvironment, prevailing vehicle speeds, and potential danger to pedestrians andother road users arising from relaxation of the speed limit.

14. Details of the results of the speed limit review are at Annex B.

PROPOSED SPEED LIMIT ROAD MARKINGS

15. On the advice of the Working Group, the Administration hascarried out a trial laying of speed limit road markings (sample drawing atAnnex C) in addition to the existing warning signs at the following fourlocations to alert drivers of the need to reduce speed before the change to alower speed limit -

(a) Man Po Street eastbound near the elevated walkway from Central;(b) Kwun Tong Road eastbound near Ngau Tau Kok Estate no. 1;(c) Shing Mun Tunnel Road Shatin bound slip road to Tai Wai; and(d) Castle Peak Road – Kwai Chung Section Kowloon bound near the

slip road to Wah Yuen Chuen.

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16. The general feedback on the speed limit road markings received sofar was positive. Many drivers were observed to slow down on seeing the roadmarkings. The Working Group therefore recommended extension of thelaying of such road markings to other locations. The Administration isplanning to lay speed limit road markings at all entry points to urban areas fromurban fringe areas where changes to the speed limit are involved by end 2002.Consideration will be given to further extension of the programme afterreviewing drivers’ general feedback.

WAY FORWARD

17. The Administration will continue to conduct speed limit reviewexercise on a regular basis and install additional warning signs and/or roadmarkings to alert drivers as appropriate.

Transport BureauGovernment SecretariatTRAN 3/9/2119 February 2002

Annex A(Page 1 of 2)

Trunk Roads and Primary Distributorswith a Speed Limit of 50km/h or 70 km/h

Included in the Speed Limit Review in 2001

(A) Speed Limit of 50 km/h

No. Road SectionsHong Kong Island1. Gloucester Road (Westbound between Cannon Street and Tonnochy Road)2. Victoria Park Road (Westbound between Cannon Street and Island East

Corridor)3. Pokfulam Road (between Pokfulam Garden and Victoria Road)Kowloon4. Kwun Tong Road (between Hong Tak Road and Ngau Tau Kok Road)5. Hung Hom Road (between Hung Luen Road and Hung Hom Bypass)6. Hung Hom Bypass (between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road)New Territories East7. Sai Sha Road (between Nai Chung and Tai Mong Tsai Road)8. Tai Po Tai Wo Road (between On Cheung Road and Yuen Shin Road)New Territories West9. Castle Peak Road (between Tai Wo Interchange and Yip Shing Street)10. Hoi On Road

(B) Speed Limit of 70 km/h

No. Road SectionsHong Kong Island1. Island Eastern Corridor2. Shek Pai Wan Road from Victoria Road to Aberdeen Praya Road3. Gloucester Road Eastbound between Arsenal Street to Victoria Park Road4. Victoria Park Road Eastbound between Gluocester Road to Hing Fat Street5. Gloucester Road Westbound between Marsh Road and Arsenal Street6. Cross Harbour Tunnel7. Aberdeen Tunnel8. Eastern Harbour Tunnel9. Western Harbour Tunnel10. Elevated Section of Route 7 (between Central District and Shek Tong Tsui)11. Pokfulam Road between Chi Fu Road and Victoria Road

Annex A(Page 2 of 2)

Kowloon12. Lung Cheung Road between Ching Cheung Road and Lion Rock Tunnel13. Lung Cheung Road between Chuk Yuen Road and Hammer Hill Road

Interchange14. Ching Cheung Road between Lai Chi Kok Bridge and Lung Cheung Road15. West Kowloon Corridor from Cheung Lai Street to Ferry Street16. West Harbour Crossing between toll plaza to Western Kowloon Highway

Northbound17. Ferry Street Flyover Northbound from Chatham Road South to Princess

Margaret Road18. Princess Margaret Road from Pui Ching Road to Hong Chong RoadNew Territories East19. Yuen Shin Road from Tai Po Tai Wo Road to Tolo Highway20. Sai Sha Road from Hang Hong Street to Tate’s Cairn Highway21. Tseung Kwan O Tunnel Road from tunnel portal to about 250m from Tseung

Kwan O Tunnel Road roundabout22. Tai Po Road from near Golden Hill Road to near Woodcrest23. Tate’s Cairn Highway from toll plaza to Siu Lek Yuen Road24. Tai Po Road from Tai Po Au to Kau To Shan25. Jockey Club Road from Lok Yip Street to Yat Ming Road26. Sha Tau Kok Road from Ha Wo Hang to Sha Tau Kok27. Po Shun Road from Po Ning Road to Tiu Keng Leng28. Wan Po Road from Po Shun Road to Chun Wang Street29. Fan Kam Road (between Kam Tin Road and Ta Shek Wu)30. Clear Water Bay Road from New Clear Water Bay Road to Pik Uk31. Clear Water Bay Road Westbound from Hiram’s Highway to Pik Uk32. Hiram’s Highway Southbound from Nam Wai to Cheng Chik Chee

Secondary SchoolNew Territories West33. Tuen Mun Road between Wong Chu Road and Castle Peak Road – Lam Tei34. Hung Tin Road35. Tin Ying Road36. Tin Wah Road37. Tin Tsz Road38. Long Tin Road39. Tuen Mun Road between Tsuen Wan and Sham Tseng40. Tsuen Wan Road41. Castle Peak Road between Tai Lam and Tsing Yung Street42. Castle Peak Road between Lam Tei and Ping Shan43. Castle Peak Road between Au Tu Interchange to Sha Po Tsuen

Annex B(Page 1 of 16)

Note : 1. The personal injury accident rates for individual road sections quoted in this Annex were

estimated on the basis of a 12-month period prior to the respective reviews.

2. Figures on the territory wide average of personal injury accident rate per million vehicle–kilometre in 2001 are being compiled. The following 2000 figures for various types of roadshave therefore been adopted as reference points -

Expressway 0.34 per million vehicle-kilometreTunnel 0.14 per million vehicle-kilometreOther Roads 1.79 per million vehicle-kilometre

Summary of the Results of the Speed Limit Review in 2001

(A) Speed Limit of 50km/h

No. Road Sections Decision JustificationsHong Kong Island1. Gloucester Road

(Westbound betweenCannon Street andTonnochy Road)

50km/h to beretained

2. Victoria Park Road(Westbound betweenCannon Street and IslandEast Corridor)


- Although the personalinjury accident rate was0.74 per million veh-km,traffic accidents involvingvehicle damage onlyoccurred almost daily.

- The 85th percentile vehiclespeed was below 63km/h ineastbound and 66km/h inwestbound outer lanes.

- Complex slip roadarrangements and changelane facilities make theroad sections unsuitable forrelaxation to speed limit of70 km/h.

3. Pokfulam Road (betweenPokfulam Garden andVictoria Road)


- High personal injuryaccident rate of 4.6 permillion veh-km.

- Despite measuresimplemented by theAdministration to improvethe road conditions, steepgradient and unsatisfactorysightline still render theroad section unsuitable forrelaxation.






No. Road Sections Decision JustificationsKowloon

4. Kwun Tong Road (betweenHong Tak Road and NgauTau Kok Road) Relaxed from

50km/h to 70km/hon 27.4.2001

- Low personal injuryaccident rate of 0.63 permillion veh-km.

- The 85th percentile vehiclespeeds were 58 to 62 km/h.

- No at grade crossing at theroad section.

5. Hung Hom Road (betweenHung Luen Road and HungHom Bypass)

Relaxed from50km/h to 70km/h

on 30.3.2001

6. Hung Hom Bypass(between Salisbury Roadand Hung Hom Road)


on 30.3.2001

- No accident record.- Dual carriageway with

good road conditionssuitable for vehiclestravelling at 70km/h.

New Territories East7. Sai Sha Road (between Nai

Chung and Tai Mong TsaiRoad) 50km/h to be

retained


- The 85th percentile vehiclespeeds were 60-65km/h.

8. Tai Po Tai Wo Road(between On Cheung Roadand Yuen Shin Road)

To be relaxedfrom 50km/h to

70km/h



- No at grade crossing at theroad section.






No. Road Sections Decision JustificationsNew Territories West9. Castle Peak Road (between

Tai Wo Interchange andYip Shing Street)


on 29.12.2000


- The 85th percentile speedswere 61-67km/h.

- High standard dualcarriageway and straightroad section suitable forvehicles travelling at70km/h.

10. Hoi On Road


on 1.1.2001


- The 85th percentile vehiclespeed was 75km/h.

- A straight dual 2-lane withgood road conditionssuitable for vehiclestravelling at 70km/h.

- No pedestrian activity atthe road section.






(B) Speed Limit of 70km/h

No. Road Sections Decision JustificationsHong Kong Island

1. Island Eastern Corridor

70km/h to beretained and

reviewed uponcompletion ofroad projects


- Road widening project isunderway. Review willbe carried out uponcompletion of the project.

2. Shek Pai Wan Road fromVictoria Road to AberdeenPraya Road




- The road section hasseveral bends with steepgradient making itunsuitable for relaxation.

3. Gloucester RoadEastbound betweenArsenal Street to VictoriaPark Road


4. Victoria Park RoadEastbound betweenGluocester Road to HingFat Street


5. Gloucester RoadWestbound between MarshRoad and Arsenal Street


- Although the personalinjury accident rates for thethree road sections were0.78, 0.45 and 0.25 permillion veh-kmrespectively, trafficaccidents involving vehicledamage only occurredalmost daily.

- There are several bus stopson the road sections.Vehicles merging from sideroads result in heavyweaving activities.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications6. Cross Harbour Tunnel



7. Aberdeen Tunnel70km/h to be

retained


8. Eastern Harbour Tunnel


- The accident rate of 0.12per million veh-km wasclose to territory average of0.14 per million veh-km.

- The 85th percentile vehiclespeed was 74km/h whichdid not support furtherrelaxation.

9. Western Harbour Tunnel


80km/h


- The 85th percentile vehiclespeeds were 78.8-81.2km/h.

- Good geometry. Thetunnel has two tubes eachcarrying 3 traffic lanes inone direction.

10. Elevated Section ofRoute 7 between CentralDistrict and Shek TongTsui


80km/h


- Good road conditionssuitable for vehiclestravelling at 80km/h.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications11 Pokfulam Road between

Chi Fu Road and VictoriaRoad

Reduced from70km/h to 50km/h

on 11.1.2002


- The speed limit in thevicinity of the signalizedjunction with Victoria Roadis 50km/h. The need forreducing speed whenapproaching the signalizedjunction presented sightlineproblem for motorists.

- The adjustment has alsoaddressed the problem offrequent changes of speedlimits within a short sectionof road which isundesirable.






No. Road Sections Decision JustificationsKowloon12. Lung Cheung Road

between Ching CheungRoad and Lion RockTunnel


13. Lung Cheung Roadbetween Chuk Yuen Roadand Hammer Hill RoadInterchange


14. Ching Cheung Roadbetween Lai Chi KokBridge and Lung CheungRoad


- The personal injuryaccident rate of the threeroad sections were 0.42,0.78 and 0.58 per millionveh-km for road sectionsno. 12, 13 and 14respectively.

- The 85th percentile speedswere 66-68 km/h, 65-72km/h and 74-76km/hrespectively.

- High usage by heavy andcontainer vehicles whichare required to travel at amaximum speed notexceeding 70 km/h. Theraising of the speed limitmay encourage the lightvehicles to overtake theheavy vehicles, posingdanger to road users.

- Relaxation of speed limit isconsidered not suitable forthe downhill sections ofroads.

- Relaxation will also resultin frequent changes ofspeed limits along ChingCheung Road and LungCheung Road which isundesirable.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications15. West Kowloon Corridor

from Cheung Lai Street toFerry Street



- There are strongenvironmental concerns, inparticular the traffic noisenuisance to the residentialpremises in the vicinity ofWest Kowloon Corridor.Relaxation will worsen thesituation.

16. West Harbour Crossingbetween toll plaza toWestern KowloonHighway Northbound To be relaxed

from 70km/h to80km/h


- Relaxation will alsoaddress the problem offrequent changes of speedlimits from West HarbourCrossing to West KowloonHighway.

17. Ferry St Flyover from FerrySt to Gascoign RoadFlyover


- Moderate personal injuryaccident rate of 0.98 permillion veh-km.

- There are strongenvironmental concerns, inparticular the traffic noisenuisance to the residentialpremises in the vicinity ofFerry Street Flyover.Relaxation will worsen thesituation.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications18. Princess Margaret Road

from Pui Ching Road toHong Chong Road


- The personal injuryaccident rate was 1.75 permillion veh-km which wasclose to the territoryaverage.

- There are a number offrontage accesses andpetrol stations along theroad. Relaxation maygive rise to safetyproblems.

New Territories East19. Yuen Shin Road from Tai

Po Tai Wo Road to ToloHighway


reviewed upon thecompletion ofroad project


- The 85th percentile speedswere 73-77 km/h.

- Tolo Highway WideningProject is underway.Review will be conductedupon completion of theproject.

20. Sai Sha Road from HangHong Street to Tate’s CairnHighway




- The road section has anumber of closely spacedsignalized junctions withpedestrian crossings ofhigh pedestrian flow.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications21. Tseung Kwan O Tunnel

Road from tunnel portal toabout 250m from TseungKwan O Tunnel Roadroundabout




- Relaxation of speed limit isconsidered not suitable forthe downhill section.

- Relaxation will also resultin frequent changes ofspeed limits between tunneland roundabout which isundesirable.

22. Tai Po Road from nearGolden Hill Road to nearWoodcrest



- There are a number ofbends, bus lay-bys andpetrol filling stations on theroad section. Relaxationmay give rise to safetyproblem.

- This is a single carriagewaywith no central divider.Relaxation of the speedlimit is not consideredsuitable.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications23. Tate’s Cairn Highway from

toll plaza to Siu Lek YuenRoad


- No personal injury accidentrecorded for 12 monthsprior to March 2001.

- There are a number ofsharp bends on the roadsection making itunsuitable for relaxation.

24. Tai Po Road from Tai PoAu to Kau To Shan




- There are at gradepedestrian crossings, busbays and a number offrontage accesses.Relaxation will give rise tosafety problem.

25. Jockey Club Road fromLok Yip Street to Yat MingRoad



- The 85th percentile vehiclespeeds were only between62-64km/h which did notsupport further relaxation.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications26. Sha Tau Kok Road from

Ha Wo Hang to Sha TauKok




- There are a lot of publiclight buses, run-in/out ofcontainer storage areas andvillages. Relaxation maygive rise to safety problem.

27. Po Shun Road from PoNing Road to Tiu KengLeng 70km/h to be

retained


- Major construction workwill commence soon.

28. Wan Po Road from PoShun Road to Chun ChoiStreet



- MTR construction worksare in progress.Construction works for agrade separatedinterchange at theroundabout will alsocommence soon.

- The middle section isnarrow with no shoulder/marginal strip which is notsuitable for relaxation,especially when over 70%of the traffic are heavygoods vehicles.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications29. Fan Kam Road (between

Kam Tin Road and Ta ShekWu)



- The 85th percentile vehiclespeeds were only 55-59km/h.

- Narrow carrriageway, poorsightline and frequent run-in/outs to villages, notsuitable for relaxation.

30. Clear Water Bay Roadfrom New Clear Water BayRoad to Pik Uk




- Unsatisfactory roadgeometry and conditions,not suitable for relaxation.

31. Clear Water Bay RoadWestbound from Hiram’sHighway to Pik Uk



- Sightlines at the Razor HillRoad junction and acautionary crossing outsideTa Ku Ling San Tsuen areunsatisfactory. Driversalready experienceddifficulties in makingturning movements underexisting conditions.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications32. Hiram’s Highway

Southbound from Nam Waito Cheng Chik CheeSecondary School



- The 85th percentile vehiclespeed was only 64 km/h.

New Territories West33. Tuen Mun Road between

Wong Chu Road and CastlePeak Road – Lam Tei 70km/h to be

retained


- Road conditions are similarto urban roads and notsuitable for relaxation.

34. Hung Tin Road

35. Tin Ying Road

36. Tin Wah Road

37. Tin Tsz Road

38. Long Tin Road


reviewed uponcompletion of

road works

- West Rail Project isunderway. Review willbe carried out uponcompletion of the roadworks.

39. Tuen Mun Road betweenTsuen Wan and ShamTseng




- Tight road geometry notsuitable for relaxation.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications40. Tsuen Wan Road




- Relaxation to 80km/h willresult in frequent changesof speed limits within shortsection of road which isundesirable.

41. Castle Peak Road betweenTai Lam and Tsing YungStreet




- There are signalisedjunctions, bus laybys andfrontage accesses along theroad. Relaxation maygive rise to safety problem.

42. Castle Peak Road betweenLam Tei and Ping Shan




- There are signalizedjunctions, bus stops and at-grade pedestrian crossingpoints along the road.Relaxation may give rise tosafety problem.






No. Road Sections Decision Justifications43. Castle Peak Road between

Au Tu Interchange to ShaPo Tsuen



- The 85th percentile vehiclespeeds were only 68.10km/h for northbound trafficand 68.57 km/h forsouthbound traffic.

Annex C

Documents

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PANEL ON TRANSPORT Progress Report of Speed Limit … · 2005. 8. 11. · Progress Report of Speed Limit Review 2001 PURPOSE This paper sets out the progress of