THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1989
SEAT BELT LEGISLATION TO BE EXTENDED
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS TO EXTEND THE COMPULSORY WEARING OF FRONT SEAT BELTS TO TAXIS, LIGHT BUSES AND GOODS VEHICLES AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUING PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS.
ALL TAXIS MANUFACTURED ON OF AFTER JANUARY 1, 1981 AND ALL LIGHT BUSES MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1984 ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO BE FITTED WITH FRONT SEAT BELTS.
UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC {SAFETY EQUIPMENT) { AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1989, THE COMPULSORY WEARING OF FRONT SEAT BELTS IN SUCH TAXIS AND LIGHT BUSES WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1989.
THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS ALSO REQUIRE ALL GOODS VEHICLES REGISTERED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1990 TO BE FITTED WITH FRONT SEAT BELTS. THE COMPULSORY WEARING OF FRONT SEAT BELTS IN GOODS VEHICLES WILL COME INTO EFFECT ALSO ON JANUARY 1, 1990.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE DATE FOR THE COMPULSORY FITTING OF FRONT SEAT BELTS IN GOODS VEHICLES COULD NOT BE EARLIER BECAUSE THE HAULAGE TRADE NEEDED TO GIVE SUFFICIENT NOTICE TO VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS OF THE NEW REQUIREMENTS,
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IT WAS NOT PRACTICABLE TO REQUIRE THE FITTING OF SEAT BELTS EXISTING GOODS VEHICLES BECAUSE THE MAJORITY LACKED SUITABLE ANCHORAGE POINTS. GOODS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1989 WOULD THEREFORE BE EXEMPTED FROM THE NEW REQUIREMENTS.
HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE SAFETY BENEFITS PROVIDED BY SEAT BELTS TO PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS AND THEREFORE HAD DECIDED TO ADVANCE THE DATE FOR COMPULSORY WEARING TO THE JAME DATE AS FOR COMPULSORY FITTING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
LIABILILTY
THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS ALSO LIMIT THE VICARIOUS OF THE DRIVERS OF TAXIS, LIGHT BUSES AND GOODS VEHICLES ΤΟ THEIR FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS UNDER THE AGE OF 15.
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT} REGULATIONS 1989 ALLOW A DRIVER OF A TAXI OR A PUBLIC LIGHT
то BUS REFUSE HIRE OR DRIVE ON WHEN THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER HAS NOT FASTENED ROAD SEAT BELT.
UNDER THE SAME REGULATIONS, OWNERS OF TAXIS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES ARE REQUIRED TO DISPLAY IN THEIR VEHICLES A NOTICE IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE TO REMIND PASSENGERS IN THE SPECIFIED SEATS TO WEAR SEAT BELTS. SUCH NOTICE IN TAXIS SHOULD ALSO BE IN JAPANESE.
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REGULATIONS THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS)
WILL AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE NEW REQUIREMENTS. A RESOLUTION ON THE AMENDMENTS WILL BE MOVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 28,
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