Police have launched a road-safety campaign in eastern Hong Kong Island to reduce traffic accidents in the area.

More than 30% of the traffic accidents involving casualties on Hong Kong Island were reported in Eastern District last year.

Safety first: Police officers and traffic wardens hand out educational leaflets to pedestrians to promote road safety in the district.

About 6,373 traffic accidents were reported on Hong Kong Island from May last year to April this year. Of them, 2,961 cases involved casualties while another 21 were fatal traffic accidents.

Of the accidents causing injury or death, 979 cases involved pedestrians, half of which were attributed to jaywalking.

Apart from distributing promotional leaflets, verbal warnings will be given to jaywalkers at five road junctions:

* King's Road and Shu Kuk Street;

* King's Road and Tong Shui Road;

* Shau Kei Wan Road and Nam On Lane;

* Shau Kei Wan Road and Tai On Street; and,

* Shau Kei Wan Road and Tai Cheung Street.

A mobile classroom has also been set up at King's Road near Tong Shui Road to educate jaywalkers.