XN000022-1975-10-03 — Page 3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1975

SPEED LIMIT FOR HEAVY VEHICLES

RAISED TO 40MPH ******

REGULATIONS HAVE DEEN AMENDED TO ALLOW GOODS VEHICLES EXCEEDING TWO TONS AND OMNIBUSES TO TRAVEL UP TO 40 MILES PER IOUR.

MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ALREADY TRAVEL IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND THE ROAD TRAFFIC (GENERAL) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1975, GAZETTED TODAY, RAISES THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED SPEED LIMIT FOR THESE VEHICLES FROM 30 MPH TO 40 MPH.

THE NEW SPEED LIMIT IS NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE INCIDENCE OR SERIOUSNESS OF ACCIDENTS AS INVESTIGATIONS OF ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG INVOLVING HEAVY VEHICLES RARELY INDICATE THAT EXCESSIVE SPEED IS A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

HE POINTED OUT THAT HEAVY VEHICLES TODAY ARE DESIGNED TO TRAVEL SAFELY AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS THAN 30 MPH WHICH WAS THE SPEED LIMIT INTRODUCED FOR GOODS VEHICLES AND OMNIBUSES 63 YEARS AGO.

SINCE 1912, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THERE HAVE BEEN VERY GREAT IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN HEAVY VEHICLE DESIGN, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR TYRES, SUSPENSIONS, BRAKES AND STEERING.

THE NEW SPEED LIMIT IS NOT EXPECTED TO RESULT IN GOODS VEHICLES AND OMNIBUSES TRAVELLING MUCH FASTER THAN THEY USED TO DO AS POLICE EXPERIENCE HERE SUGGESTS THAT IT IS COMPARATIVELY RARE FOR THEM TO EXCEED 40 MPH, HE SAID.

EXPERIENCE ABROAD, HE ADDED, HAS SHOWN THAT THE RAISING OF SPEED LIMITS ON INDIVIDUAL CLASSES OF VEHICLES DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN AVERAGE VEHICLE SPEEDS INCREASING BY THE SAME AMOUNT.

·

+THE NEW SPEED LIMIT, THEREFORE PERMIT THE CONCENTRATION OF POLICE AND RADAR SPEED METERS ON THE RESTRICTED URBAN ROADS WHERE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL DRIVERS SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED FROM EXCEEDING THE LIMIT, AND ON STRETCHES OF UNRESTRICTED ROADS WHERE GOODS VEHICLES ARE LIKELY TO EXCED THE NEW SPEED LIMIT AND WHERE IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR THEM TO DO SO, HE SAID.

0

13.