XN000022-1987-06-17 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1987

STEPS TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF HEAVY VEHICLES OUTLINED

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT STATISTICS INDICATE THAT THE ACCIDENT RATE OF LORRIES AND CONTAINER TRUCKS IS THE LOWEST AMONG THE VARIOUS TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLES BOTH IN TERMS OF DISTANCE TRAVELLED AND THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS PER VEHICLE, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR LEUNG SAID DESPITE THE RELATIVELY GOOD SAFETY RECORD, THE GOVERNMENT WAS BY NO MEANS COMPLACENT AND HAD TAKEN VARIOUS STEPS TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THESE VEHICLES.

SAID.

"THESE FALL INTO TWO MAIN ASPECTS, CONTROL AND EDUCATION, HE

ON CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT, HE SAID WHILE POLICE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES WERE REGULARLY TAKEN AGAINST UNSAFE LOADING AND OVERLOADING, INSTALLATION OF ROADSIDE WEIGHBRIDGES AT KEY POINTS OF THE ROAD NETWORK WAS BEING CONSIDERED TO TIGHTEN UP CONTROL AGAINST OVERLOADING.

NOTING THAT GOODS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE 1978 WERE AT PRESENT REQUIRED TO UNDERGO ANNUAL ROAD-WORTHINESS INSPECTION, MR LEUNG SAID COMPULSORY ANNUAL INSPECTION WOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL GOODS VEHICLES BY 1990 AFTER THE OPENING OF KOWLOON BAY VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE.

TO

"TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CONTAINER TRUCKS, LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED IN 1984 REQUIRING THE DRIVERS OF ALL ARTICULATED VEHICLES HAVE A LICENCE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT CLASS OF VEHICLE," HE SAID.

"TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF INJURY IN ACCIDENTS, CONSIDERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO REQUIRE MORE HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES TO BE FITTED WITH GUARDS AT THE SIDES AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT PEDESTRAINS AND SMALLER VEHICLES GOING UNDERNEATH THESE VEHICLES IN ACCIDENTS.

C

ON EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, MR LEUNG SAID THE ROAD USERS' CODE TO BE PUBLISHED LATER THIS MONTH WOULD CONTAIN A SECTION ADVISING GOODS VEHICLE DRIVERS SAFE PRACTICES IN DRIVING, LOADING AND OPERATING GOODS VEHICLES.

OF

HE ALSO SAID A PROVISIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE LOADING GOODS VEHICLES HAD BEEN COMPILED IN CONSULTATION WITH GOODS VEHICLE OPERATORS AND ISSUED LAST MONTH FOR WIDER COMMENT AND CONSULTATION.

MR LEUNG SAID THE CODE, WHICH EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED SAFE PRACTICES FOR THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF GOODS VEHICLES AND THE SAFE CARRIAGE OF PERSONS ON THESE VEHICLES, WAS INTENDED) TO BE PUBLISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR AFTER CONSULTATION HAD BEEN COMPLETED.

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