SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1983
9
SAFETY EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS
THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS WHICH WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ROAD TRAFFIC (PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT) REGULATIONS AND SOME PROVISIONS OF THE EXISTING (CONSTRUCTION AND USE) REGULATIONS, LIST VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE WEARING OF PROTECTIVE HELMETS ON MOTORCYCLES AND THE FITTING AND WEARING OF SEAT BELTS IN PRIVATE CARS. THE REQUIREMENT TO CARRY FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN VEHICLES WHICH AT PRESENT ONLY COVERS BUSES AND LIGHT BUSES, IS TO BE EXTENDED BY THE NEW REGULATIONS TO HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES, THAT IS GOODS VEHICLES OVER 24 TONNES IN GROSS WEIGHT.
THE NEW REGULATIONS WILL ALSO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL OFFENCE OF PERMITTING A PASSENGER TO RIDE ON A MOTOR CYCLE WITHOUT WEARING A HELMET.
PARKING REGULATIONS
THE PARKING REGULATIONS, WHICH REPLACE THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PARKING AND WAITING) REGULATIONS AND THE (TEMPORARY CAR PARKS) REGULATIONS, CONSOLIDATE AND UPDATE EXISTING LEGISLATION AND PUT THE LAW IN THIS FIELD IN A MORE CONCISE AND SIMPLE FORM.
THE CONCEPT OF 'PARKING' HAS NOW BEEN DEFINED AND THE TERM 'WAITING' DROPPED. PARKING IS NOW DEFINED AS 'THE STANDING OF A VEHICLE, WHETHER OCCUPIED OR NOT, EXCEPT WHEN STANDING TEMPORARILY FOR THE PURPOSE OF AND WHILE ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN LOADING OR UNLOADING OR PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS'. A VEHICLE IS NOT DEEMED TO BE PARKED IF IT CANNOT MOVE BECAUSE OF BREAKDOWN OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE DRIVER'S CONTROL AND ADDITIONALLY ALL REASONABLE STEPS ARE TAKEN TO MINIMISE ANY OBSTRUCTION AND REMOVE THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN TEMPORARY CAR PARKS AND OTHER CAR PARKS IS ABOLISHED AND THE NEW REGULATIONS PROVIDE MORE COMPREHENSIVELY FOR THE OPERATION AND CONTROL OF DESIGNATED CAR
PARKS.
THE NEW REGULATIONS EXPRESSLY PROHIBIT PARKING ON A PAVEMENT, PEDESTRIAN WAY OR SIMILAR PLACE BUT PROVIDE FOR A DEFENCE WHERE THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION OR ACTUAL DANGER CAUSED. THEY ALSO EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TO MAKE TEMPORARY PARKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR A PERIOD OF 72 HOURS, AND THEY CREATE THE OFFENCES OF PARKING AN UNATTACHED TRAILER ON A ROAD AND LEAVING A VEHICLE ON A ROAD IN A POSITION DANGEROUS TO OTHER ROAD USERS.
THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE NEW PARKING REGULATIONS PROVIDES
A NEW SET OF TRAFFIC SIGNS AND ROAD MARKINGS RELEVANT TO THE PARKING OF VEHICLES WHICH ARE SIMPLER AND CLEARER THAN MANY OF THOSE CURRENTLY IN USE.
/10
Page 10Page 11