XN000022-1976-10-09 — Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976

MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS OUT TO +CATCH+ DEFECTIVE CARS SOON

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MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS WILL SOON BE OUT ON THE ROADS TO

SPOT DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO HELP IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY.

DISCLOSING THIS TODAY, MR. KEN ANDREWS, SENIOR MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINER OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, SAID: +UNROADWORTHY VEHICLES POSE A POTENTIAL THREAT TO OTHER ROAD USERS AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS, AND SHOULD BE KEPT OFF THE ROAD.+

+TO BE REALLY EFFECTIVE THE JOB SHOULD BE DONE BY EXPERIENCED AND TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED VEHICLE EXAMINERS WHO CAN BE MORE SELECTIVE REGARDING WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD BE STOPPED AND EXAMINED, + HE SAID. +VEHICLE EXAMINERS WOULD CONCENTRATE ON BLATANT CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND USE) REGULATIONS AND DEFECTS WHICH EITHER CAUSED A NUISANCE TO THE PUBLIC OR AFFECTED THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.+

+WE ARE NOW BEING REINFORCED BY FIVE NEWLY-RECRUITED MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS FROM ABROAD - THREE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TWO FROM NEW ZEALAND, AND WHEN THEY HAVE ALL ARRIVED, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE SHALL BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS SCHEME WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE TRAFFIC POLICE, MR. ANDREWS ADDED.

IN FACT, EXISTING ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ALREADY PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION OF VEHICLES BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE, REGULAR INSPECTIONS ARE LIMITED MAINLY TO PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES.

MEANWHILE, PLANS ARE WELL IN ADVANCE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A $4.1 MILLION SEMI-AUTOMATED VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRE IN KOWLOON BAY. THE NEW CENTRE WHICH COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 100,000 SQUARE FEET WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT 80,000 INSPECTIONS A YEAR WHEN FULLY UTILISED.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT WHEN THE NEW CENTRE IS COMPLETED IN ABOUT TWO YEARS' TIME, IT WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND THE EXISTING ANNUAL INSPECTIONS TO COVER ALL GOODS VEHICLES AND PRIVATE CARS ABOVE A CERTAIN AGE, MR. ANDREWS SAID.

+HOWEVER, OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO INSPECT EVERY VEHICLE ONCE A YEAR,+ HE ADDED.

THE DEPARTMENT