XN000022-1986-10-02 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1986

+THE REGULATIONS, HOWEVER, STIPULATE A THREE-YEAR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, THUS PERMITTING HOLDERS OF GOODS VEHICLE DRIVING LICENCES ISSUED BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGULATIONS TO DRIVE ARTICULATED VEHICLES UP TO AUGUST 24, 1987, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT SINCE THE NEW RULE TOOK EFFECT, MORE THAN 6 000 PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR THE ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING TEST AND SOME 3 700 OF THEM ARE WAITING FOR THEIR TURN TO BE TESTED.

AT PRESENT, WAITING TIME FOR THE TEST IS ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AND TEST APPOINTMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED FOR EARLY MAY NEXT YEAR.

+ THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONSIDERING WAYS TO REDUCE THE WAITING TIME FOR THE TEST,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+ IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT FOR DRIVERS WHO DO NOT WISH TO HAVE A BREAK IN THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO DRIVE ARTICULATED VEHICLES TO APPLY FOR A DRIVING TEST AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. OTHERWISE, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE TEST BEFORE THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD EXPIRES,+ HE SAID.

APPLICANTS FOR THE ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING TEST MUST POSSESS A VALID LICENCE TO DRIVE MEDIUM AND HEAVY VEHICLES, AND APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE SHA TIN DRIVING TEST OFFICE, FIFTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 0-6061676.

+MEANWHILE, DRIVERS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING TEST SHOULD ALSO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTION WITHOUT DELAY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

DRIVERS APPLYING FOR TEST EXEMPTION SHOULD FULFIL THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

* THEY SHOULD BE FULL-TIME ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVERS WHEN

THE NEW LEGISLATION CAME INTO EFFECT OR HAVE DRIVEN SUCH VEHICLES WITHIN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE AUGUST 25, 1984.

* 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 HAVE AT LEAST A YEAR'S EXPERIENCE DRIVING GOODS VEHICLES.

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

APPLICATIONS FOR TEST EXEMPTION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S DRIVING TEST SECTION AT 19 PUI CHING ROAD, HO MAN TIN, KOWLOON, AND ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 3-7144202 OR 3-7146164.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ABOUT 3 000 DRIVERS HAVE APPLIED FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING TEST AND 1 995 HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR APPLICATIONS SO FAR.

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