XN000022-1984-08-27 — Page 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1984

DRIVERS INVITED TO APPLY FOR TEST EXEMPTION

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ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVERS ARE BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE APPROPRIATE DRIVING TEST REQUIRED UNDER THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT APPLICATION FORMS FOR EXEMPTION WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S LICENSING OFFICES FROM TOMORROW (AUGUST 28).

+GOODS VEHICLE DRIVERS HOLDING FULL LICENCES MAY DRIVE ARTICULATED GOODS VEHICLES FOR THREE YEARS AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LAW, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

+ BUT AFTER THIS TRANSITION PERIOD, THESE DRIVERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE PASSED OR BEEN EXEMPTED FROM THE APPROPRIATE TEST FOR ARTICULATED VEHICLES, HE SAID.

DRIVERS APPLYING FOR TEST EXEMPTION SHOULD FULFIL ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

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THEY SHOULD BE CURRENT DRIVERS OF ARTICULATED VEHICLES OR HAVE DRIVEN SUCH VEHICLES WITHIN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LEGISLATION.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A YEAR'S DRIVING EXPERIENCE ON ARTICULATED VEHICLES. IN THE CASE OF AN INTERRUPTED EXPERIENCE, NO BREAKS SHOULD EXCEED THREE MONTHS, AND THE EXPERIENCE MUST BE ACCUMULATED WITHIN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD.

THEY MUST HAVE AT LEAST A YEAR'S EXPERIENCE IN DRIVING GOODS VEHICLES.

THEY MUST NOT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY SERIOUS TRAFFIC OFFENCES DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS.

COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS DULY ENDORSED BY THE EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S DRIVING TEST SECTION, 19 PUI CHING ROAD, KOWLOON FOR VERIFICATION. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE INFORMED IN WRITING WHEN AND WHERE TO HAVE THE IR LICENCES ENDORSED.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT ANY DRIVER ENGAGED IN DRIVING ARTICULATED VEHICLES ON OR BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LEGISLATION BUT DOES NOT HAVE A FULL YEAR'S ARTICULATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCE COULD APPLY FOR EXEMPTION WHEN HE HAS GAINED THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE.

HE ALSO SAID THAT DRIVERS WHO WISH TO SIT FOR AN ARTICULATED VEHICLE TEST MAY APPLY FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1984 BY WRITING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S SHATIN DRIVING TEST OFFICE, 5/F, KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.

ENQUIRIES CONCERNING APPLICATIONS FOR TEST EXEMPTION MAY BE MADE ON 0-6061676.

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