WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
11
BILL PUTS EMPHASIS ON ROAD USERS
***
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE +HIGHWAY CODE+ IN THE MAIN ORDINANCE TO +ROAD USERS' CODE+ TO REFLECT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF EMPHASIS IN ITS CONTENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR SCOTT SAID THE PRESENT TITLE +HIGHWAY CODE+ IN SECTION 109 OF THE ORDINANCE IS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ADDRESSED TO DRIVERS.
+HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF ROAD USERS IN HONG KONG ARE PEDESTRIANS AND PASSENGERS; AND SOME 34 PER CENT AND 31 PER CENT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS RESPECTIVELY INVOLVE THESE TWO GROUPS. CYCLISTS ALSO ARE A VULNERABLE GROUP, MR SCOTT POINTED OUT.
THE BILL SEEKS TO CHANGE HIGHWAY CODE+ TO +ROAD USERS' CODE+ SO THAT THE REVISION WILL HAVE CHAPTERS FOR PEDESTRIANS, PASSENGERS, CYCLISTS, THE PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AS WELL AS DRIVERS.
IT WILL ALSO REFLECT THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION WHICH IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, MR SCOTT SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 18.
P
TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR 'PROBLEM JUNCTION"
****
TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE TO BE INSTALLED AT THE +PROBLEM JUNCTION+ OF POTTINGER STREET AND QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY.
+WORK IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN ABOUT THREE MONTHS, HE SAID, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON K.C. CHAN.
+THIS JUNCTION, FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CENTRAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS, HAS BEEN NOTED AS A PROBLEM,+ MR SCOTT ADDED.
/12