XN000022-1979-07-04 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1979

NEW MEASURES TO REDUCE BUS ACCIDENTS TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR

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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WILL INTRODUCE FROM NEXT YEAR A SERIES OF MEASURES TO HELP ENSURE THAT BUSES ARE KEPT SAFE.

HE SAID THIS WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG WHO ASKED WHAT MEASURES, BOTH LONG AND SHORT TERM, THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING TO REDUCE BUS ACCIDENTS.

MR. BARNES SAID THAT IN JANUARY 1980 THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WILL START THE RELICENSING OF BUSES ON INSPECTION OF STEERING, BRAKES, TYRES, SUSPENSION AND LIGHTING AND SO ON, AND THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE OF ROAD WORTHINESS. IT WILL ALSO START A SYSTEM OF SPOT CHECKS.

HOWEVER HE SAID WHAT WAS STILL NEEDED WAS A GREATER ATTENTION TO THE FACTORS WHICH HAD CAUSED UNSAFE DRIVING.

+THIS REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LEAD TO UNSAFE DRIVING. THIS IS BEING DONE,+ HE POINTED OUT.

TURNING TO THE TWO RECENT BUS ACCIDENTS REFERRED TO BY DR. FANG, THE SECRETARY SAID ALTHOUGH THEY WERE SERIOUS, THEY FORTUNATELY DID NOT SEEM TO CONSTITUTE A TREND, PARTICULARLY AS IT SEEMED LIKELY THEY OCCURRED FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

STATING THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S MAIN CHECKS ON THE SAFETY OF BUSES HAD BEEN SUMMARISED IN THE COUNCIL MANY TIMES BEFORE, MR. BARNES SAID BRIEFLY THEY WERE

ON BUSES:

* A PRECOMMISSIONING FULL INSPECTION RESULTING IN A CERTIFICATE

OF FITNESS-

*

MONITORING OF MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE ROUTINES, AND

* PERIODIC CHECKS ON STEERING, BRAKES, TYRES, SUSPENSION LIGHTING, AND ALL OTHER PARTS ESSENTIAL TO ACCIDENT PREVENTION=

ON THE OPERATION OF BUSES:

*

AGREEMENT ON TRAINING PROGRAMMES-

* TESTING OF DRIVERS FOR LICENSING=

*

ADJUSTMENT OF SCHEDULES TO MEET TRAFFIC CONDITIONS-

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