Safety island is not safe anymore: expert

Islands in the middle of a road have outdated designs and can no longer guarantee pedestrians' safety in the modern age, an expert said.

Two died and eight were injured after a taxi crashed into an island in Tai Po yesterday.

Speaking on a radio program this morning, president of Hong Kong Automobile Association, Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, said the islands were designed years ago. However, cars are going faster and there are more pedestrians on the roads than in the past.

When pedestrians stand on the island, they will be surrounded by cars zooming in front of and behind them, and the islands provide little protection to them, he said.

He called on pedestrians to cross a road in one go, and for authorities to introduce more footbridges, tunnels or smart traffic lights.

This morning, more citizens, including staffers from Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, laid flowers at the island the taxi crashed into yesterday to pay tribute to those who died. 

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