XN000022-1987-01-07 — Page 46

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987

REASONS FOR ROAD RESTRICTED ZONES EXPLAINED

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO CONSIDER SUGGESTIONS FOR A RELAXATION OF 24-HOUR STOPPING RESTRICTIONS IN PARTICULAR CASES IF REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE TO IT. THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON DAVID LAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON NGAI SHIU-KIT ABOUT DESIGNATED 24-HOUR RESTRICTED ZONES, MR LAN SAID THE RESTRICTIONS WERE IMPOSED ON ALL EXPRESSWAYS, SUCH AS TUEN TUN HIGHWAY, AND CERTAIN TRUNK ROADS, SUCH AS WATERLOO ROAD AND GLOUCESTER ROAD.

+TRAFFIC ON EXPRESSWAYS IS GENERALLY FASTER THAN ON OTHER ROADS, AND ANY VEHICLE STOPPING ON THESE ROADS AT WHATEVER TIME IS A. POTENTIAL DANGER TO OTHER ROAD USERS, HR LAN SAID.

+FOR SIMILAR REASONS, THERE ARE 24-HOUR STOPPING RESTRICTIONS

IN AND ON THE APPROACHES TO ALL TUNNELS.+

MR LAN SAID THAT 24-HOUR RESTRICTIONS WERE KEPT TO A MINIMUM IN RESPECT OF ROADS OTHER THAN EXPRESSWAYS.

HOWEVER IT WAS NECESSARY TO IMPOSE STOPPING RESTRICTIONS UP TO AND BEYOND MIDNIGHT IN AREAS WHICH HAD TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND SAFETY PROBLEMS, SUCH AS PORTIONS OF CERTAIN MAIN OR EVEN SIDE STREETS WHERE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

+TO ENSURE THAT THE RESTRICTIONS ARE EASILY UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC AND TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF CONFUSION THROUGH HAVING TOO MANY DIFFERENT RESTRICTION PERIODS, À 24-HOUR STOPPING RESTRICTION IS OCCASIONALLY IMPOSED WHEN TECHNICALLY A SHORTER PERIOD MIGHT SUFFICE, MR LAN SAID.

HE NOTED THAT SOME ROAD USERS MIGHT BE INCONVENIENCED IN THESE INSTANCES, BUT IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT IT WAS BETTER TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AS SAFETY WAS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT.

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