TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1982
TAC BACKS COMPULSORY WEARING OF SEAT BELTS
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THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS IN PRIVATE CARS TO WEAR SEAT BELTS. IT FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT THE REQUIREMENT, IF INTRODUCED, SHOULD BE EXTENDED IN DUE COURSE TO PLB'S AND TAXIŠ.
THROUGH THIS MEASURE, IF APPROVED, A REDUCTION CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE SEVERITY OF SOME 60 PER CENT OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS. IN OTHER WORDS, OVER 700 ACCIDENTS EACH YEAR COULD BE MADE LESS SERIOUS.
A REPORT PRESENTED TO THE TAC POINTED OUT THAT THE CASE FOR COMPULSORY WEARING OF SEAT BELTS WAS SUPPORTED BY EXPERIENCE IN MANY OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE CANADA AND AUSTRALIA. SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA ALSO HAVE SIMILAR LEGISLATION.
THESE COUNTRIES HAD FOUND THAT THE USAGE OF SEAT BELTS WAS HELPFUL IN REDUCING FATALITIES BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF LEGISLATION, PERSUASION THROUGH THE MEDIA HAD VERY LITTLE EFFECT IN ACHIEVING HIGH LEVELS OF SEAT BELT WEARING.
HONG KONG'S TRAFFIC SITUATION MIGHT BE THOUGHT TO BE DIFFERENT, IN THAT CARS GENERALLY TRAVEL LESS QUICKLY. HOWEVER, THERE CAN BE PERIODS WHEN THEY REACH HIGH SPEEDS SUCH AS WHEN ON THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY, AND EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS, A HEAD-ON COLLISION CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES, THE REPORT SAID.
A STUDY CARRIED OUT BY THE PWD ROAD SAFETY DIVISION SHOWED THAT IN PEAK PERIODS, ONLY ABOUT FOUR TO SEVEN PER CENT OF PRIVATE MOTORISTS IN HONG KONG WEAR SEAT BELTS WHILE DRIVING.
THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT CARS MANUFACTURED AFTER JUNE 30, 1964 AND REGISTERED AFTER AUGUST 1, 1976 ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO HAVE SEAT BELTS FITTED TO THEIR FRONT SEATS.
THE PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE COMPULSORY WEARING OF SEAT BELTS IN PRIVATE CARS HAS ALSO HAD THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE STANDING CONFERENCE ON ROAD SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION AND THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS.
THE PROPOSALS DID NOT INCLUDE GOODS VEHICLES BECAUSE THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT IN A COLLISION, IT MIGHT BE AS SAFE FOR THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND THÚS AWAY FROM ANY FREIGHT BEING THRUST THROUGH THE REAR OF HIS CAB.
IN THEIR MEETING TODAY, TAC MEMBERS ALSO AGREED TO AN INCREASE IN THE LIMIT ON HOTEL HIRE CAR PERMITS FROM 150 TO 300, AND TO ALLOW PERSONS APPOINTED BY TOURIST AGENCIES TO HOLD TOUR HIRE CAR PERMITS. THIS WILL ALLOW A GREATER NUMBER OF GENUINE OPERATORS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORT SERVICES TO HOTEL GUESTS AND TOURISTS. APPLICATIONS FOR THE PERMITS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLOSELY EXAMINED.
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