WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1979
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LORRIES TO BE TESTED ANNUALLY
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THE OPENING OF THE NEW KOWLOON BAY VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE LATER THIS YEAR WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO INSPECT GOODS VEHICLES ANNUALLY SO AS TO IMPROVE THEIR MAINTENANCE STANDARDS.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID THIS IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR. JONES SAID ANNUAL INSPECTIONS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE IMPOSSIBLE AT PRESENT BECAUSE OF LACK OF TESTING FACILITIES.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF ALL GOODS VEHICLES HAVE SOME DEFECT OR OTHER, BUT MOSTLY MINOR, WHICH ARE NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VEHICLES CONCERNED DANGEROUS OR UNROADWORTHY, THE ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY SAID.
ON SPOT CHECKS, MR. JONES SAID THE POLICE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS, CARRY OUT LIMITED CHECKS OF VEHICLES AT THE ROADSIDE.
*IT IS PERTINENT THAT MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS CAN UNDERTAKE MORE INSPECTIONS, AND MORE THOROUGH INSPECTIONS, IN VEHICLE TESTING CENTRES, HE ADDED.
ANSWERING A SEPARATE QUESTION FROM MR. CHEONG-LEEN, MR. JONES SAID INFORMATION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO SAY HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE LORRIES.
LAST YEAR, HE SAID, THERE WERE 3,277 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING GOODS VEHICLES BUT THEY AND THE IR DRIVERS WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE,
+EVEN WHEN THEY WERE IT WAS NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS DÉFECTIVE, HE SAID.
+NEVERTHELESS,+ HE ADDED, THE RECORDS OF ALL THE 3,277 ACCIDENTS WILL BE EXAMINED MANUALLY TO EXTRACT WHAT INFORMATION THERE IS ON THE ROADWORTHINESS OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED.+
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, ACCIDENTS INVOLVING GOODS VEHICLES AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED FROM ABOUT 12 PER CENT TO JUST UNDER 16 PER CENT.
BUT OVER THAT PERIOD THE NUMBER OF LORRIES ON THE ROAD HAS INCREASED FASTER THAN OTHER VEHICLES AND THEY NOW COMPRISE OVER 20 PER CENT OF ALL VEHICLES.
+THE PLANNED INTRODUCTION LATER THIS YEAR OF COMPULSORY ANNUAL INSPECTIONS FOR ALL GOODS VEHICLES SHOULD IN DUE COURSE CONSIDERABLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LORRIES ON THE ROADS WITH SERIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECTS, HE SAID.
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