XN000022-1994-05-04 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1994

FLOW.

"THIS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED TRAFFIC THROUGHPUT AND TRAFFIC

"ALTHOUGH THERE ARE INDEED OCCASIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN ARRIVING PASSENGERS MAY EXPERIENCE LONGER WAITING PERIODS FOR LAND TRANSPORT, THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR AND THE AVAILABILITY OF LAND TRANSPORT SERVICES AT THE AIRPORT ARE SATISFACTORY."

GOVT'S POLICY IS TO PROMOTE OFF-ROAD DRIVING TRAINING

*

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF ADOPTING DIFFERENT DRIVING TEST APPOINTMENT SYSTEMS FOR STUDENTS OF DRIVING SCHOOLS AND THOSE OF PRIVATE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS IS TO PROMOTE OFF-ROAD DRIVING TRAINING, WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE WIDER INTERESTS OF ALL ROAD USERS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARMA, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN THE POLICY

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BARMA SAID IT WAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S AND PRACTICE TO ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OFF-STREET DRIVING SCHOOLS SINCE THESE PROVIDED LEARNER DRIVERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY ACQUIRE BASIC DRIVING SKILLS IN A SAFE AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.

ΤΟ

"THIS ALSO REDUCES THE INCONVENIENCE TO OTHER MOTORISTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE RESULT BY A LARGE NUMBER OF LEARNER DRIVERS USING PUBLIC ROADS, HE SAID.

זז

HE NOTED THAT PRIVATE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WERE NEVERTHELESS FREE TO OPERATE AND OFFER THEIR SERVICES TO THOSE WHO WISH TO LEARN TO DRIVE.

THE AVERAGE WAITING TIME FOR PRIVATE CAR DRIVING TESTS IN THE PAST 24 MONTHS WAS 174 DAYS FOR STUDENTS OF OFF-ROAD DRIVING SCHOOLS, COMPARED WITH 218 DAYS FOR THOSE USING PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS.

"WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT THE PRESENT PRACTICE IS UNFAIR ΤΟ THOSE LEARNERS USING PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS, SINCE POTENTIAL LEARNERS ARE FREE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN OFF-ROAD DRIVING SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS AND THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TESTS ARE, MR BARMA SAID.

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