XN000022-1992-07-19 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 1992

GUIDED TOURS CAN BE ARRANGED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOR GROUPS UPON REQUEST, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBERS ARE LIMITED.

THE COURSES WILL HELP TEACHERS TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE CENTRE AND MAKE FUTURE VISITS BY SCHOOL GROUPS MORE FRUITFUL AND INTERESTING.

MORE SUCH TRAINING COURSES MAY BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE PROVED TO BE USEFUL AND POPULAR AMONG TEACHERS.

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REMINDER TO FIT GOODS VEHICLES WITH SIDEGUARDS AND REARGUARDS

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED GOODS VEHICLE AND TRAILER OWNERS THAT THE GRACE PERIOD FOR FITTING SIDEGUARDS AND REARGUARDS ON THEIR VEHICLES WILL EXPIRE ON JULY 1 NEXT YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD APPLY TO GOODS VEHICLES WHICH HAD PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT. EXCEEDING 5.5 TONNES AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTRES OF ANY TWO CONSECUTIVE AXLES EXCEEDED THREE METRES.

"THIS WILL ALSO APPLY TO TRAILERS WHICH HAS A PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT EXCEEDING TWO TONNES AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTRES OF ANY TWO CONSECUTIVE AXLES EXCEEDED THREE METRES.

"SEMI-TRAILERS WHICH HAVE A PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT EXCEEDING TWO TONNES AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTRE OF ITS FIRST AXLE AND THE CENTRE OF THE KING PIN EXCEEDS 4.5 METRES ARE ALSO INCLUDED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE LEGISLATION TOOK EFFECT ON JULY 1, 1990, BUT THERE IS A THREE-YEAR GRACE PERIOD FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED BEFORE THIS DATE," HE ADDED.

"SIDEGUARDS ARE DESIGNED ΤΟ PREVENT MOTOR CYCLISTS OR PEDESTRIANS FROM BEING TRAPPED BETWEEN THE AXLES IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION AND REARGUARDS ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT VEHICLES FROM UNDERRUNNING INTO THE VEHICLES AT THE FRONT IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, HE ADDED.

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THE SIDEGUARDS AND REARGUARDS

MUST BE FITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF VEHICLE ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS ON GROUNDS OF THE SPACE CONTRAINTS AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

OPERATORS AND OWNERS CAN CONTACT THE VEHICLE EXAMINATION DIVISION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON TEL 829 5466 FOR MORE DETAILS.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS WAS AN OFFENCE AND WAS LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $10,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.

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