XN000022-1983-06-08 — Page 5

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JEDNALLY, JUNE 8, 1983

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MRS CHO SAID THAT ITEMS 7, 3 9 AND 11 HAD REMAINED ON THE SCHEDULE, ADDING THAT +THEY ARE NOT THEMSELVES UNSAFE DRIVING BEHAVIOUR ALTHOUGH THEY ARE RELATED TO OR CONSEQUENTIAL FROM UNSAFE DRIVING BEHAVIOUR

*ALTHOUGH THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED SINCE OUR DISCUSSIONS TO DROP ITEMS 10 AND 16, IT WOULD BE WRONG OF ME TO ACCEPT THIS COMPROMISE, FOR A MAJOR PRINCIPLE OF THE BILL IS AT STAKE.

DR IP SAID: +WHILE WE PENALISE THE IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVERS, WE MUST ENSURE THAT RESPONSIBLE ONES ARE NOT UNNECESSARILY HARASSED.

+ALTHOUGH I WAS FINALLY CONVINCED THAT ALL THE OFFENCES AS LISTED IN THIS BILL AFTER AMENDMENTS MAY BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO SAFETY ON THE ROAD, I'LL LIKE ALSO TO ADD THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY MAY NOT BE. AND IF NOT, SUCH OFFENCES SHOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO DISQUALIFICATION.

+'FAILING TO STOP AFTER AN ACCIDENT', 'FAILING TO GIVE PARTICULARS AFTER AN ACCIDENT' AND 'FAILING TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT MAY BEAR DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO UNSAFE DRIVING ONLY WHEN SOMEONE IS INJURED.

+ONE MAY BE FORCED TO CROSS DOUBLE WHITE LINES TO OVERTAKE A BROKEN DOWN CAR IN FRONT. ONE MAY HAVE TO PASS A RED LIGHT TO GIVE WAY TO AN AMBULANCE BEHIND. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN DUE CARE IS TAKEN, SUCH ACTS SHOULD IMPOSE NO DANGER. ON THE CONTRARY, DANGER IS LITERALLY AVOIDED, SHE SAID.

TURNING TO ENFORCEMENT, MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW OFFENCE POINTS ORDINANCE WOULD +GREATLY INCREASE THE CHANCE OF FRICTION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND DRIVERS (PARTICULARLY PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS).+

MR WONG SAID: THE GOVERNMENT MUST GIVE CLEARER DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS OF THESE ITEMS WHICH ARE MORE LIKELY TO LEAD TO DISPUTES.

+THERE SHOULD ALSO BE MORE DEFINITE GUIDANCE TO LAY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND SEVERE PENALTIES FOR LAFAIR ALLEGATI, 10, SO AS TO REDUCE THE ANXIETIES OF DRIVERS AND THE CHANCES O CONFRONTATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND DRIVERS.+

MR CHAN SAID: TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVE OF INCREASING ROAD SAFETY WITHOUT CREATING UNDUE HARDSHIP TO DRIVERS MCCH DEPENDS ON THE TACT, EDUCATED MANNERS, REASONABLE ATTITUDE AND TOLERANCE OF OUR LAW ENFORCING OFFICERS ON THE BEAT.

+AS CAN BE HEARD DAILY IN THE STREETS, WHEN A DRIVER COMMITS A MINOR OFFENCE AND APOLOGISES FOR IT, THE BETTE- OFFICERS LET HIM OFF WITH A WARNING; THE INDIFFERENT ONES TELL THE DRIVER TO SPEAK TO THE MAGISTRATE AND THE BAN OVE EITHER TELL THE DRIVER THAT HE WILL ADDITIONALLY EE PROSECUTEI FOR OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS 1.150, OR UPGRADE HIS CARELESS DRIVING CHARGE TO ONE OF DANGEROU. DRIVING (THE OLD TERM FOR RECKLESS DRIVING).

A-DEMANDING ON