Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ17: Improving situation of road signs being blocked
Question:
It has been reported that road signs in Hong Kong are blocked by the foliage of roadside trees from time to time, rendering important traffic signs not clearly visible and posing potential risks to road safety. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
| Year Both HyD and LCSD have carried out trimming work in a timely manner upon receiving the above cases. None of these cases involved traffic accidents caused by delayed trimming. In addition, if the HyD discovers during regular road maintenance inspections or receives reports stating that there are overgrown roadside posing imminent danger to road users (e.g. branches and leaves extending into the carriageway seriously obstructing traffic signs), it will immediately arrange urgent trimming to ensure the safety of road users even if the trees concerned are not under its maintenance. Over the past three years, the HyD received two cases each year concerning traffic signs being seriously obstructed by roadside trees under the jurisdictions of other departments or private lot owners requiring immediate arrangement of urgent trimming. (2) The HyD engages contractors through term contracts to conduct regular inspections of roadside trees under its jurisdiction at specified frequencies (generally once every three to six months), and to trim trees obstructing traffic signs, traffic lights, and street lights as soon as possible according to the inspection findings. The HyD also requests its contractors to identify slopes/planting areas that require more frequent tree trimming, and arrange at least three trimming operations at these locations between April and October each year. Meanwhile, the LCSD also conducts regular inspections of trees under its jurisdiction, including checking for protruding branches to the carriageway that obstruct vehicle passage, impair drivers’ visibility, affect traffic signs, or pose potential risks to vehicles.Issued at HKT 11:10 NNNN |