XN000022-1978-08-25 — Page 2

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1978

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO INTRODUCE A SCHEME TO GIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS.

THE SCHEME, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION BY ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, PROVIDED FINANCE COMMITTEE ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED, WOULD BENEFIT ALL VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND COMPENSATION WOULD BE PAYABLE IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WOULD BE NO MEANS TEST. PAYMENTS WOULD BE MADE FOR PERSONAL INJURY ONLY AND DAMAGED PROPERTY WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED.

THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE WOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, RANGING FROM ABOUT $14,000 IN CASES WHERE THE BREAD-WINNER IN A FAMILY IS KILLED, TO ABOUT $3,000 IN CASES INVOLVING INJURY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE SCHEME WAS TO GIVE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL AID TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FACING HARDSHIP ARISING FROM INVOLVEMENT IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THE SCHEME DOES NOT, HOWEVER, AFFECT THEIR RIGHT TO OBTAIN LEGAL DAMAGES IN THE USUAL WAY,+ HE SAID.

BASED ON THE TREND IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE SCHEME COULD COST $45 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR. ONE-THIRD OF THE COST WOULD BE MET BY THE GOVERNMENT AS A SOCIAL WELFARE MEASURE AND ON BEHALF OF PEDESTRIANS, WHILE THE BALANCE WOULD BE MET BY A LEVY OF $75 ANNUALLY ON VEHICLE LICENCES AND $25 ANNUALLY ON DRIVING LICENCES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO PUT THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS (ASSISTANCE FUND) BILL 1978, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLY IN THE NEXT SESSION. THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE FUND TO BE SET UP AND FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE LEVIES. THE SCHEME ITSELF WILL BE RUN ADMINISTRATIVELY BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WHO IS WORKING OUT DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS FOR DOING THIS.

ALSO, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE ASKED TO PREPARE A SCHEME FOR A MOTOR INSURERS' BUREAU, WITH GOVERNMENT ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE. THIS WOULD ACT FOR ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES AND PROVIDE COMPENSATION IN CASES WHERE A DRIVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WAS UNINSURED, WHERE HE COULD NOT BE TRACED, OR WHERE THERE IS INSURANCE COVER BUT SOME BREACH OF CONDITIONS HAS OCCURRED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE TWO SCHEMES WOULD TOGETHER ENSURE THAT VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS RECEIVED INTERIM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE M. I.B. SCHEME FULL COMPENSATION FOR THE IR INJURIES. +IT IS HOPED THAT THEY WILL GREATLY RELIEVE FINANCIAL DISTRESS, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD AND SAID: INDIVIDUAL DISTRESS AND THE BURDEN TO THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE SO MUCH LESS IF PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE CARE- FUL ON THE ROADS.+

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