XN000022-1975-03-11 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1975

DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES TO DE LICENSED ANNUALLY

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VEHICLES USED FOR CARRYING COMPRESSED GASES AND INFLAMMADLE LIQUIDS ARE TO BE LICENSED ANNUALLY DEGINNING FROM APRIL 1.

THE LICENCE FEE IS $50 PER YEAR AND APPLICATIONS SHOULD DE MADE IN WRITING TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU, ASIAN HOUSE, HENNESSY ROAD.

A CENTRE IS BEING SET UP AT HARBOUR ROAD FIRE STATION TO START INSPECTING VEHICLES NEXT MONTH,

A CERTIFICATE OF ROAD-WORTHİNESS ISSUED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN RESPECT OF EACH VEHICLE MUST ALSO DE PRODUCED WHEN THE VEHICLE UNDERGOES INSPECTION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT REMINDED VEHICLE OWNERS THAT UNDER EXISTING REGULATIONS THE FINE FON CONVEYING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS WITHOUT A LIGENCE IS $2,000 AND ONE MONTH IMPRISONMENT AND THAT A FINE OF $5,000 MAY BE IMPOSED, PLUS TWO MONTHS IMPRISONMENT, FOR CARRYING COMPRESSED GASES WITHOUT A LICENCE.

THEY ARE ALSO REMINDED NOT TO LEAVE A VEHICLE UNATTENDED WHILE CARRYING DANGEROUS GOODS AND NOT TO SMOKE OR GARRY MATCHES OR LIGHTERS ON THESE VEHICLES.

A CIRCULAR LETTER EXPLAINING THE NEW REQUIREMENTS HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES LICENSED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO CONVEY DANGEROUS GOODS.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN CONCERN ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AND FIRES INVOLVING VEHICLES USED TO CONVEY CATEGORY 2 (COMPRESSED GASES) AND CATEGORY 5 (INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS) DANGEROUS GOODS.

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION HAD REQUIRED ALL VEHICLES INTENDED FOR CONVEYING THESE TWO CATEGORIES OF DANGEROUS GOODS TO BE INSPECTED AND APPROVED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT DEFORE DEING PUT

INTO USE, BUT AT THAT TIME THESE VEHICLES ONLY HAD TO BE LICENSED ONCE AND NOT ANNUALLY AND BECAUSE OF THIS MANY ACCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF WEAR AND TEAR COUPLED WITH LACK OF CARE AND MAINTENANCE BY VEHICLE OWNERS.

TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED, DANGEROUS GOODS VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO DE LICENSED ANNUALLY.

THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF SAFETY STANDARDS WAS MOST DANGEROUS. +APART FROM THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLES CONCERNED, OTHER ROAD USERS WOULD ALSO DE ENDANGERED,+ HE ADDED.

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