WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1982
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* DRIVING IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO GIVE NO THOUGHT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A RISK OR, HAVING RECOGNISED THAT THERE IS SOME RISK, HAS NONETHELESS GONE ON TO TAKE IT.
MRS CHOW CALLED FOR A
SATISFACTORY TRANSLATION+ WHICH WOULD CONVEY THE FULL MEANING OF THE TERM.
ON RECKLESS CYCLING, MRS CHOW SAID THERE WAS A TENDENCY TO UNDERESTIMATE ITS THREAT TO OTHER MOTORISTS.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT CYCLISTS WERE NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO READ AND COMPLY WITH ROAD SIGNS AND OTHER REGULATIONS.
SHE CALLED ON THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON HOW OFTEN MOTOR ACCIDENTS WERE THE RESULT OF BAD CYCLING SO THAT TIGHTER CONTROL MIGHT BE INTRODUCED IF NECESSARY.
THE HON MARIA TAM SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE MEANING OF RECKLESS DRIVING+ IS NOT CLEARLY STATED IN THE BILL, DRIVERS NEED NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT COMMITTING OFFENCES IF THEY MAKE SAFETY THEIR PRIME CONCERN AND REFRAIN FROM BEING ADVENTURERS.
IN HER OPINION, RECKLESS DRIVING IS THE ACTION OF A DRIVER WHEN HE IS DRIVING WITHOUT REGARD TO CONSEQUENCES, THUS INCURRING THE DANGER OF INJURING OTHER PEOPLE OR CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY,
CITING EXAMPLES, SHE SAIDI +WHEN A DRIVER WANTS TO CHANGE LANE, IF HE SIGNALS TO TURN LEFT BUT SWITCHES TO THE RIGHT LANE, HIS ACTION OBVIOUSLY COURTS THE DANGER OF BUMPING HEAVILY AGAINST CARS ON THE RIGHT; AND THIS IS RECKLESS DRIVING'.
+ IF HE SIGNALS TO TURN LEFT, BUT SWITCHES TO THE RIGHT LANE YET LEAVES ENOUGH DISTANCE FOR THE CARS ON THE RIGHT LANE TO BRAKE ABRUPTLY TO SLOW DOWN, THEN IT BECOMES CARELESS DRIVING.
+SUCH EXAMPLES ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO BE QUOTED, BUT IN ESSENCE, WHAT CONSTITUTES 'RECKLESS DRIVING' IS THE ACTION REGARDLESS OF CONSEQUENCES, WHICH INCURS THE DANGER OF INJURING PEOPLE AND DAMAGING PROPERTY AS MENTIONED ABOVE.+
MISS TAM EXPRESSED HOPES THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD INSTRUCT THE POLICE IN DETAIL ON HOW TO DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES AND HOW DECISIONS WOULD BE MADE AS TO WHETHER A DRIVER SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH "RECKLESS DRIVING' SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD ACCEPT AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS NEW LEGISLATION AS WELL AS GET HOLD OF ITS CONCEPT.
+ IN THE PAST, DRIVERS IN HONG KONG COULD UNDERSTAND THE EQUALLY ABSTRACT CONCEPT OF 'DANGEROUS DRIVING, SHE SAID.
+NOW, GIVEN GUIDANCE, THEY CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF 'RECKLESS DRIVING'.+
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