XN000022-1976-04-07 — Page 43

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Wednesday, April 7, 1976

FRESH ACTION TO REDUCE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

車

The Commissioner for Transport is looking for a suitable off-stroot

site for learner motorcyclists, the Secretary for the Environment, the

Hon. James Robson, told the Legislative Council today.

With such facilities, he said it might be possible to inculcate

some senso of responsibility into learner drivers during their training period.

He felt that rather than trying to reduce the number of motorcycles

by fiscal means or by making it more difficult to obtain a motorcycle

driving licence, a more fruitful line of action to reduce the number of accidents involving these vehicles would be "the provision of bettor le:ner

facilities and the requirement that no learner should be allowed on the

street, on a motorcycle, until he had passed a basic test.

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He said he hoped the Transport Department would be able to find

and arrange this off-street site for learner drivers.

Speaking in the resumed budget debate, Mr. Robson pointed out

that although nine per cent of all licensed vehicles were notorcycles,

the reported fatal or injury accidents involving motorcycles was 20 per

cent of the total accident figure last year.

And more alarming, he added, was the fact that over this period

the number of motorcyclists prosecuted for dangerous and careless driving

almost doubled "an indication that, as a class, motorcyclists are

becoming increasingly irresponsible."

On the question of controlling the operation of shops hiring out

motorcycles, the Secretary said it would be difficult to do so through legislation as these shops usually sold motorcycles, and it would be simple to hire the vehicles under the cover of making them available for test-

driving with a view to purchase.

Mr. Robson .............