In recent years, electric mobility devices (EMDs), such as electric scooters, electric unicycles, electric hoverboards, etc., are often used on roads in Hong Kong illegally, increasing the risk of accidents and posing threat to road safety.
To test the speed of EMDs, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Department of Justice worked together with the EMSD and successfully developed the first Electric Mobility Device Speed Tester. On 30 June this year, a launching ceremony for this invention was held at Tai Lam Chung Vehicle Examination Centre.
Under the current legislation, EMDs are regulated by motor vehicle-related ordinances. For cases involving EMDs, scientific evidence is required to prove the speed of the devices. However, since road tests take time and involve high costs and substantial manpower, law enforcement and prosecution departments will be put under great pressure in the long run. In view of the above, the EMSD worked closely with the relevant departments and completed the development for this project within a short period of time.
The speed tester adopted an automatic mechanical device with robotic arms to simulate the limbs of the testing personnel to control the acceleration, deceleration and braking movements of the EMDs. The speed tester can be used to substitute human testing, thereby reducing labour cost. It can also be used to test various models of EMDs to meet different testing needs. Furthermore, the speed tester will automatically generate reports with the relevant data, which can enhance the efficiency, save resources and costs, and expedite the entire process with a higher safety level.
Launched in June this year, the speed tester was praised by Mr. Ngai Chun-yip, Chief Inspector of Traffic Branch Headquarters, HKPF, for assisting the HKPF in conducting court-ordered road tests in the vehicle examination centre and providing related reports. Compared to the previous arrangements of engaging university researchers to conduct the tests, the speed tester greatly enhanced the efficiency of the HKPF in handling relevant cases.