XN000022-1995-03-28 — Page 20

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Committee endorses seat-belt wearing by bus drivers

The Transport Advisory Committee today (Tuesday) agreed in principle the compulsory fitting and wearing of three-point seat belts for drivers of all newly registered buses.

The committee had not taken a decision on the time frame for the implementation of the new measure but endorsed the gradual introduction of seat-belt wearing by bus drivers.

As regards existing buses, members agreed that there should be a timetable whereby bus operators were required to modify their fleet, taking into account the types of vehicles involved and the technical feasibility of carrying out the modifications.

Members noted that as far as accident rates for bus drivers were concerned, bus drivers were a more at-risk group, having the third highest rate in comparative casualty rates for drivers per thousand licensed vehicles, and per million vehicle kilometres respectively.

From a road safety viewpoint, therefore, the additional protection offered by seat belts would be beneficial to bus drivers and hence to their passengers, members noted.

End/Tuesday, March 28, 1995

Reclamations pose negligible effects on waterbome activities

The results of hydraulic studies have concluded that reclamation works being carried out in the Victoria Harbour pose negligible effect on vessel navigation and other waterborne activities.

This was stated by the Principal Government Civil Engineer, Dr Choi Yu-leuk, during a press visit to the Harbour Hydraulic Laboratory of the Civil Engineering Department (CED) in Tuen Mun today (Tuesday).

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