Night, Bad Weather and Road Works 夜間、惡劣天氣及道路工程

Night Driving and Bright Sunlight 夜間駕駛及猛烈陽光

You must use headlamps during the hours of darkness (including dusk and dawn) and in poor visibility. Street lights do not remove this duty, because headlamps also help other road users to see you. At night, drivers and pedestrians tire more easily, and pedestrians are especially hard to see when a wet road surface reflects light.

Stopping distances grow with speed, but the range of your headlamps stays the same. Reduce speed at night so that your overall stopping distance is well within that range.

You must dip your headlamps where there are street lights or when traffic is approaching. You should also dip them when passing other vehicles or road users and when driving close behind another vehicle. Even on dipped headlamps, do not follow so closely that you dazzle the driver in front. If you meet high beams, look towards the left edge of the road, and do not flick your own high beams as a warning or leave them on to get even. If dazzled, slow down or even stop.

Bright sunlight is also a hazard: dazzle can leave you unable to see for a second or two, relying on your memory of the scene ahead. If bright sky behind a traffic sign makes it hard to read, its shape will help you. Take special care entering or leaving a tunnel: sunglasses may leave you unable to see at first on entry, and on leaving you need extra care if the road layout is unfamiliar or a toll plaza is ahead.

Rain, Flooding, Fog and Wind 雨、水浸、霧及強風

On wet roads tyre grip is reduced, so your allowance for braking distance should be at least doubled. A road is especially slippery when it is wet after a spell of dry weather, and the smoother your tyres, the greater the increase in braking distance. You must use headlamps during the day whenever heavy rain, smoke, mist, fog or a similar condition makes visibility poor. Pedestrians' views may be hampered by umbrellas or headwear, and they may slip when crossing.

Very heavy rain can form a thin sheet of water on which even good tyres cannot grip, and you may lose all control of steering or braking. Slow down through pools of water, as the spray can block your view, affect your brakes and stop your engine, and may also affect other drivers' view or drench pedestrians. When a red or black rainstorm warning signal is issued, beware of serious flooding. If the road is flooded, try to stop in a safe place and find out how deep the water is. If it is not too deep and you decide to continue, drive as slowly as you can but keep the engine speed up to avoid stalling. Afterwards, try your brakes, taking care if there are vehicles behind.

In fog or mist, slow down, keep a safe distance and make sure you can always stop within the distance of your view ahead. Do not concentrate on another vehicle's rear lamps, which give a false sense of security, and do not speed up to escape a vehicle close behind you. You may be going much faster than you think, and a heavy vehicle may take longer to stop than the vehicle ahead. Use headlamps or fog lamps and rear lamps, with windscreen wipers as necessary. Use fog lamps, if fitted, in fog and avoid them in other circumstances.

In strong winds, especially near high-sided vehicles, you need quick and positive reactions to keep control. Look out for fallen trees and other obstructions, and give pedestrians and cyclists plenty of room because they can be blown off course. If a tropical cyclone is near Hong Kong, follow the latest news and forecast track to plan your trip.

Road Works and Temporary Traffic Control 道路工程及臨時交通管制

The 'Road works ahead' sign should be the first sign you see on approaching road works, and the same sign with an 'End' plate marks where they finish. Slow down as soon as you see the first indication of road works. Be ready for workers and vehicles moving unexpectedly close to or into the open traffic lanes, and for pedestrians forced onto the roadway because a pavement or footpath is closed or blocked. Expect the unexpected even on a familiar route, especially at night, as the arrangements may change as the works progress.

Traffic cones and cylinders mark temporary traffic lanes or diversions, and you must not drive over them. Temporary signs and warning lights are often on stands, so they can be knocked down or displaced. Those carrying out the works follow the Highways Department's Code of Practice for the Lighting, Signing and Guarding for Road Works when setting up temporary traffic arrangements and warnings.

Temporary traffic lights may be used at a junction, at a site access or where the roadway narrows to a single track for two-way traffic. If a temporary sign is used instead of a 'Stop' line, you must stop and stay before the sign when the red, or red and amber, lights are showing. Manually operated 'Stop/Go' signs may also control one-lane-two-way traffic: you must not drive past a 'Stop' sign, and at a 'Go' sign you may go if the way is clear.

Works on Dual Carriageways and in Tunnels 雙程分隔車路及隧道的工程安排

When works on a dual carriageway are extensive, some traffic lanes may be switched to the other carriageway. Temporary signs tell you about the lanes ahead and give you time to move to the correct lane, and drivers of large vehicles should generally use the left most lane. Stay in your lane, follow the signs and traffic cones, and take particular care through the gap in the central reservation.

On a carriageway with two-way traffic, water-filled barriers, traffic cylinders or traffic cones separate the traffic flows. Lanes may be narrower than usual, so take extra care and keep your speed down. On returning to the normal carriageway, stay in your lane until well past the works unless traffic signs or road markings indicate otherwise.

One-tube-two-way operation is generally used in the small hours of the morning for regular tunnel maintenance or cleansing, and the speed limit in the tube is generally lowered to 50 km/h. You must strictly follow the signals and signs of the temporary arrangement, particularly the diversions at both ends of the tube, and obey all signals and directions from tunnel officers. You should also pay attention to messages on variable message signs and radio broadcasts.