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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1975
TIGHTER CONTROL ON OVERCROWDING IN VEHICLES
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AMENDING LEGISLATION WHICH PROVIDES FOR MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL ON OVERCLOUDING IN VEHICLES IN ORDER TO ENSURE GREATER SAVETY FOR PASSENGERS, WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL, GAZETTED TODAY, SEEKS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT REGULATIONS MAY DE MADE RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS WHO MAY BE CARRIED IN ANY VEHICLE, AND TO MAKE THE VEHICLE OWNER LIABLE FOR THE OFFENCE OF CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS.
IT ALSO ENABLES A POLICE OFFICER TO SUPPLY BY CERTIFICATE CERTAIN EVIDENCE RELATING TO PLANS OR DRAWINGS MADE BY HIM OR TO STATEMENTS MADE TO HIM AS TO THE DRIVER OR OWNER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A LARTICULAR OCCASION.
IF THE BILL IS PASSED, IT IS ENVISAGED THAT AMENDMENT REGULATIONS WILL BE MADE IN RESPECT OF OVERCROWDING IN OF JIBUSES SO AS TO IMPOSE LIABILITY ON THE REGISTERED OWNER.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT VEHICLES CARRYING EXĊESS PASSENGERS WOULD CREATE A POTENTIAL DANGER TO PASSENGERS AND OTHER ROAD USERS IN THE EVENT OF THE VEHICLE DECOMING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
HE SAID THAT WHILE DRIVERS COULD BE SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED UNDER THE EXISTING LEGISLATION ON OVERCROWDING IN OMNIBUSES, THIS WAS CONSIDERED UNLIKELY TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AS THE OWNER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTROL AND OPERATION OF THE BUS SERVICE AND THE DISCIPLINE OF HIS STAFF.
DRIVERS OF ONE-MAN-OPERATED BUSES HAVE LITTLE SCOPE FOR CONTROLLING BOARDING PASSENGERS AT BUSY BUS STOPS AND THIS HAS TO BE DONE BY REGULATORS EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR, HE SAID.
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL THUS ENSURING GREATER SAFETY FOR PASSENGERS, THE AMENDING DILL MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WHERE A VEHICLE CARRIES EXCESS PASSENGERS THE REGISTERED OWNER IS LIABLE FOR THE OFFENCE, HE SAID,
AT THE SAME TIME, HE ADDED, THE TWO MAJOR BUS COMPANIES HAVE PROGRAMMES FOR DUYING ADDITIONAL BUSES WHICH SHOULD GO FURTHER TO MEETING THE DEMANDS OF THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC.
AS TO THE PROPOSED PRODUCTION OF FORMAL EVIDENCE BY CERTIFI- CATE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS WOULD SERVE TO CUT DOWN THE COURT'S TIME AND TO MINIMISE THE INCIDENTS REQUIRING THE DIRECT EVIDENCE OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO COULD BE MORE USEFULLY EMPLOYED ON OTHER DUTIES.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, EVIDENCE BY CERTIFICATE WOULD NOT PRECLUDE THE CALLING OF A POLICE OFFICER TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN PERSON SHOULD HIS EVIDENCE BE CONTESTED.
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