HK traffic management: more nanny state bullying, less convenience

Following the previous article on improving HK’s traffic management (see link), more ideas have bubble up or were received from reader feedback. So now we follow up with some more commonsense suggestions:

Safety über alles! vs the need to pity pedestrian hearing?

Hong Kong’s pedestrian traffic signal sounds may be viewed as abrasive, even stressful to hear for road crossing public. When more than one crosswalk exists in close quarters, the overlapping noises create an overwhelming acoustic cacophony even. Could HK civil servants be too fervent in achieving their road safety mission at the expense of other stakeholders (eg residents living above crossings)?

In contrast, many other countries use gentler, softer signal sounds that alert pedestrians while keeping the experience pleasant: Japan, Mexico, and Spain employ relaxing bird chirps, while Thailand uses rhythmic beeps or melodic clicks. These quieter, more soothing alternatives are given below for you to compare:

Table 1: best practice signal sounds around the world

Style	Link to video (time stamp)	Sound imitates
	Japan (2:03)	Bird chirping
	Canada (4:10)	Soft melody
	Mexico (4:31)	Bird chirping
	Spain (6:36)	Bird chirping
	Thailand (7:25)	Soft beats

Source: global comparison video here

 Extreme nanny state molly coddling, HK style?

Since July 2022, HK has seen some 1,600 red-light projectors installed at pedestrian crossings ‘to enhance pedestrian safety’.

Figure 1: double red crossing lights not enough, let’s carpet the pavement with even more red lights!

But human nature dictates that such red carpet lighting will be ineffective at best: research by the University of Nottingham (link) suggests that 90% of pedestrians will ignore projector lights, often crossing after checking for traffic rather than following the signal.

These well-meaning bright lights cause nuisance to nearby residents as well – a complaint letter sent by Wan Chai District Councillor Lam Wai-Kong (Figure 2) is a case in point. Of course, anyone who goes to the length to complain is a very small minority of affected residents, most may just grin and bear:

Figure 2: complaint letter on light pollution

In typical paternalistic fashion dispensing other people’s money, the Transport authorities has already spent HK$9.59 million deploying these light projectors which not only needs repairs and replacement, but will in the meantime incur significant electricity costs as they are left on all day, every day of the year.

For argument’s sake, if each such projector is rated 200W, it will use 1,752 kWh of electricity per year. At the current initial deployment levels, the scheme is already costing upwards of $1.7m in tax payer money (Table 2 below). For some pet safety imperative which is not even seen elsewhere in the world for a widely travelled road user such as your correspondent!

Table 2: Estimated cost based on CLP:

	Ref	Calculations
Annual consumption of 200W bulb (kWh)	A	200x24x365/1,000 = 1,752
Per kWh cost (rate + fuel)*	B	($1.1 + $0.39) = $1.49
Annual cost per bulb	C=AxB	1,752 x 1.49 = $2,610.48
Total cost for tax payers (650 bulbs)	Cx650	$2,610.48 x 650 = $1,696,812

*using cheaper CLP pricing, current rates here: CLP & HK Electric

Hong Kong seems hell bent on controlling road user behaviour in a quest for 100% safety, at great costs to their convenience and road system efficiency. Another recent example of such idiotic (let alone unpopular) policy is well captured in the newly created crime of not putting on safety belts on public buses – thankfully now suspended (see here). This is the kind of condescending governance mentality the powers that be must change if Hong Kong is to function like a world city?

Countdown Timers for Pedestrians too?

Our original article suggested using countdown timers for cars (link), but why not extend that to pedestrians too? All the benefits of timers for cars are applicable for pedestrians as well:

Figure 3: Countdown Timers

‘Turn on red’ long over due for HK?

Another form of HK traffic management improvement should be familiar for regular travellers to North America: the ability for cars to turn at cross roads when the forward traffic signal is red, as illustrated here:

Figure 4: How left-turn on red works

Basically when turning left (or right if you are looking at American system) when the forward light is red as shown by the green arrow above. There are a number of benefits for such an arrangement (eg found in research from International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology), generally improving traffic flow and overall cross road capacity.

One good example in HK can be found at the Jordan Road – Wui Man Road junction in Yau Ma Tei. The current outdated intersection controls creates significant vehicle tail backs during busy periods, with traffic coming out of the Western Tunnel heading Eastwards through Jordan Road lacking the ability to be directed northwards (ie. Turning left in Figure 4 below), even when cross traffic is generally very thin. This area is additionally infamous for its multiple red-light crossings within a short stretch, leading to frequent stops.

Figure 5: Jordan Road traffic should benefit from Left turn on red big time

HK is one of the jurisdictions where turn on red is prohibited, even though this arrangement is widely practised in China. With increasing integration into its hinterland, now is the opportune moment to make that upgrade.

There may be many other areas we can improve HK’s transport experience, we will write about them when we have a chance. If you feel like helping our city move ahead, then write to the administrators or policy makers and lobby for changes…

The author would like to thank Chau Chak Kwan from The City University of Hong Kong majoring in Global Business Systems Management and Chan Hoi Ki from The City University of Hong Kong majoring in Finance for assisting in data collection and analysis of this article.

Extra material

based on a University of Hong Kong study suggests these devices could reduce red-light jumping by 25%, as they effectively https://english.dotdotnews.com/a/202306/23/AP649541cee4b08eeabfe03db8.html