WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1984
10
SAFETY CONTROLS ON LARGE LORRIES EXPLAINED
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GOVERNMENT POLICY RECOGNISED THAT THE USE OF HEAVIER AND LARGER LORRIES HAD TO BE CAREFULLY CONTROLLED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY OF OTHER ROAD USERS, INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS, THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+ IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS THAT NEW ROADS ARE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED TO ACCOMMODATE SUCH VEHICLES: RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF CERTAIN ROADS ARE SET ACCORDING TO THE TYPES AND CLASSES OF HEAVY AND LARGE VEHICLES; AND THE SIZE, WEIGHT AND POSITIONING OF LOADS ARE REGULATED FOR ALL GOODS VEHICLES,+ MR SCOTT EXPLAINED.
+ IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SPECIAL CONTROLS ON THE TIMING, ROUTE AND MANNER FOR THE CARRIAGE OF CERTAIN SPECIAL OR OVER-SIZE LOADS, HE SAID.
MR SCOTT WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION ON THE SUBJECT FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI.
HE SAID THAT THE ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION PRESCRIBED CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING MINIMUM BRAKING EFFICIENCY.
+PROPER MAINTENANCE OF ALL LORRIES IS ENCOURAGED AND ENFORCED BY THE VEHICLE EXAMINATION WHICH ALL GOODS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE 1976 MUST TAKE BEFORE THEY CAN BE RELICENSED AT FOUR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL INTERVALS, + MR SCOTT SAID.
THE POLICE ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN ENFORCING THE TRAFFIC LEGISLATION, MR SCOTT SAID.
HE REPORTED THERE WERE 4 072 PROSECUTIONS FOR OVERLOADING IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH 6 714 FOR THE WHOLE OF 1983.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARIA TAM ABOUT SHORT AND LONG TERM MEASURES TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THE EASTERN STREET AREA IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT, MR SCOTT SAID THAT WORK HAD STARTED ON LAYING SKID RESISTANT MATERIAL AND WIDENING THE FOOTPATHS ON THIS STREET BETWEEN QUEEN'S ROAD WEST AND SECOND STREET.
+OTHER SHORT TERM MEASURES INCLUDE ERECTING SIGNS WITH THE WARNING 'STEEP HILL/KEEP IN LOW GEAR' ON EASTERN STREET BETWEEN. HIGH STREET AND SECOND STREET, AND GIVE WAY' SIGNS AND MARK INGS WHICH HAVE BEEN PLACED AT THE JUNCTION OF EASTERN STREET, SECOND STREET AND HOSPITAL ROAD, HE SAID.
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/SKID RESISTANCE