XN000022-1991-10-30 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1991

ROAD SAFETY GIVEN HIGHEST PRIORITY IN DESIGNING ROAD JUNCTIONS

THE SAFETY OF VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC IS GIVEN THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN DESIGNING ROAD JUNCTIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALBERT CHAN, MA LEUNG SAID IN EACH CASE, THE DESIGN TOOK ACCOUNT OF THE TYPE OF

ROAD, THE PROJECTED TRAFFIC VOLUME, PEDESTRIAN NEEDS AND SIGHT DISTANCE.

HE STRESSED THAT THE STANDARDS ADOPTED ACCORD WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE.

•

THE SECRETARY SAID THE SAFETY OF ROAD JUNCTIONS WAS KEPT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW, HAVING REGARD ΤΟ CHANGING TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THESE REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC INCLUDING DISTRICT BOARDS, IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE AS NECESSARY, HE ADDED.

ACTION AGAINST GOODS VEHICLE OVERLOADING TO BE STEPPED UP

* * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN ACTION AGAINST THE OVERLOADING OF GOODS VEHICLES, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEUNG SAID THESE PROPOSALS INCLUDED RAISING THE AMOUNT OF THE FIXED PENALTY, MAKING THE OVERLOADING OF INDIVIDUAL AXLES AN OFFENCE, INCLUDING OVERLOADING AS A SCHEDULED OFFENCE UNDER THE DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS SYSTEM, AND TIGHTENING OWNERS' LIABILITY FOR OVERLOADING OFFENCES.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ALBERT CHAN, MR LEUNG SAID IN ADDITION TO THE PRESENT 18 WEIGH STATIONS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, THREE MORE WOULD BE INSTALLED BY STAGES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES.

THESE STATIONS WOULD BE LOCATED IN CHAI WAN NEAR THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, TAI LAM CHUNG NEAR TUEN MUN ROAD AND THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION NEAR THE FUTURE WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY.

THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT SAID SUSPECTED OVERLOADED VEHICLES WERE CHECKED AT POLICE WEIGH STATIONS AND WERE REQUIRED TO OFF-LOAD ANY GOODS IN EXCESS.

/DEPENDING ON