XN000022-1988-07-12 — Page 14

TURSDAY, JULY 12, 1988

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ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION EXTENDED TO COVER PRIVATE ROADS

THE

TODAY

GOVERNMENT BRIEFED MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS (TUESDAY) ON A BILL TO EXTEND THE PROVISIONS OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION TO PRIVATE ROADS.

AN EXPLANATION OF THE EXTENSION WAS GIVEN AT THE BRIEFING IN THE FORMER LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR PETER PANG.

HE SAID THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION TO BE APPLIED TO PRIVATE ROADS WOULD INCLUDE PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE DRIVING CONDUCT OF MOTORISTS, INSURANCE, LICENSING AND CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS OF VEHICLES.

TO COMPLEMENT THE EXTENSION OF SUCH PROVISIONS, ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS CONCERNING SIGNS WERE ALSO PROVIDED IN THE BILL, HE SAID.

THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS WOULD BE ALLOWED ΤΟ ERECT, WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT. CERTAIN TRAFFIC SIGNS OR ROAD MARKINGS WHICH WERE SIMPLE TO PUT UP AND DID NOT HAVE IMPORTANT TRAFFIC IMPLICATIONS.

GUIDANCE ON HOW THEY SHOULD BE ERECTED WOULD BE PROVIDED BY A CODE OF PRACTICE PREPARED BY THE COMMISSIONER.

FOR MORE COMPLICATED ONES (SUCH AS PROHIBITED ZONE SIGNS), FORMAL APPLICATION TO THE COMMISSIONER WOULD BE NECESSARY.

TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER TO RECTIFY IMPROPER SIGNS OR TO DIRECT THE INSTALLATION OF NECESSARY SIGNS, THE BILL WOULD EMPOWER HIM TO REQUIRE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS TO REMOVE OR INSTALL TRAFFIC SIGNS ON THEIR ROADS.

MR PANG SAID THE BILL WOULD ALSO APPLY ΤΟ PRIVATE ROADS THE SAFETY PROVISIONS IN OTHER RELEVANT ORDINANCES.

THESE INCLUDED THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS (ASSISTANCE FUND) ORDINANCE, THE MOTOR VEHICLES (THIRD PARTY RISKS) ORDINANCE, AND SECTIONS OF THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) ORDINANCE.

THE USE OF GOLF-CARTS WOULD BE REGULATED IN THE BILL.. A GOLF- CART WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE INSURED AND SAFELY CONSTRUCTED FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO DESIGNATE AREAS WHERE A GOLF-CART MIGHT ONLY BE DRIVEN ON ROADS BY A HOLDER A VALID DRIVING LICENCE.

OF

/MR PANG