XN000022-1984-07-11 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1984

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TRAFFIC LAW TIDIED UP *****

A BILL TO CORRECT SHORTCOMINGS AND ERRORS IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 1982 BEFORE IT IS IMPLEMENTED AT THE END OF NEXT MONTH WAS GIVEN A SECOND READING BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE BILL, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984 WAS MOVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT.

CLAUSES OF THE BILL PROVIDE FOR THE FOLLOWING :

* THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT CAN REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF A DESIGN PLAN FOR A VEHICLE. THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR VEHICLE EXAMINATIONS, PARTICULARLY IF INTERNAL MOD IF ICATIONS ARE INVOLVED.

*

*

*

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ALLOW THE GRADUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LEGISLATION. IN PARTICULAR, IT WILL TAKE SOME YEARS TO INTRODUCE ALL THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS AND MARKINGS AND EXISTING ONES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE EFFECT UNTIL REPLACED.

A PRIVATE BUS CAN STILL BE USED FOR DRIVER TRAINING PURPOSES AND A NON-FRANCHISED PUBLIC BUS CAN STILL BE HIRED FOR RECREATIONAL OUTINGS.

THE OFFENCE OF FAILURE TO PRODUCE A DRIVING LICENCE IS EXTENDED FROM ITS APPLICATION ONLY WHERE A PERSON IS DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE TO INCLUDE PERSONS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, COMMITTING TRAFFIC OFFENCES OR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS TO OBTAIN DRIVING LICENCES.

* THE PLACING OF CERTAIN SIGNS OR ROAD MARKINGS COVERED BY THE ROAD USERS' CODE. IN PARTICULAR TO ALLOW THE USE OF A PORTABLE TRIANGULAR SIGN TO GIVE ADVANCE WARNING OF A BREAKDOWN.

* THE REQUIREMENT UPON DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO STOP

AND EXCHANGE PARTICULARS IN THE EVENT OF PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENTS IS EXTENDED TO THE DRIVERS OF ALL VEHICLES. THUS A CYCLIST WHO CAUSED INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN WOULD BE INCLUDED. A DRIVER WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REPORT TO THE POLICE NOT ONLY WHEN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVES PERSONAL INJURY, BUT ALSO WHEN DAMAGE IS INVOLVED AND PARTICULARS ARE NOT EXCHANGED AT THE SCENE.

*

THE POWERS OF A POLICE OFFICER TO REQUIRE THE OWNER OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF A VEHICLE TO DISCLOSE THE IDENTITY OF THE DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ARE EXTENDED. AT PRESENT THE POWER APPLIES ONLY WHEN TRAFFIC OFFENCES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED. THE THREE MONTH TIME LIMIT FOR SUCH A DEMAND OF DISCLOSURE IS REMOVED.

/* IF A

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